Here is the breakdown of the ban and why it happened.
Where is it Banned? 🚫
The ban is comprehensive across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations:
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Kuwait
Oman
Bahrain
The Reason: "Anti-Pakistan Narrative" 🇵🇰
The primary reason cited by censorship boards in these regions is the film's "Anti-Pakistan" content and geopolitical rhetoric.
The Issue: Gulf censors are increasingly strict about films that depict specific nations (especially Pakistan) in a negative light or use aggressive jingoistic dialogue.
The Content: The trailer itself featured lines about "taking Lahore" and aggressive posturing ("Eid ke bakre"), which likely red-flagged the film for censors who prefer neutral geopolitical storytelling.
A Recurring Trend
Border 2 is not alone. It follows a growing list of Indian action films facing similar bans in the Gulf:
'Dhurandhar' (2025): Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller was also banned last month for similar reasons, costing the makers an estimated ₹90 Crore in overseas revenue.
'Fighter' (2024) & 'Gadar 2' (2023): Both films faced bans or severe restrictions in the region due to their "anti-neighbor" themes.
SantaBanta Verdict: While this is a financial blow (the Gulf is a massive market for Bollywood), the makers seem prepared. They are banking on the domestic box office, where the film is already projected to earn a massive ₹40+ Crore on Day 1.
