Bollywood
Cocktail 2 Budget Breakdown: 150 Crore Landing Cost for Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon Starrer
BY CHRISTA LINCY
The anticipation for Cocktail 2 has been building steadily since its announcement, especially with the fresh trio of Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna. Directed by Homi Adajania, the film is being positioned as a premium big-screen entertainer rather than a standard romantic comedy. Recent reports from Bollywood Hungama have now shed light on the massive financial scale of this project, revealing that Dinesh Vijan and Maddock Films are treating this as one of their most ambitious releases to date. According to the budget breakdown provided by Bollywood Hungama, the landing cost for Cocktail 2 has reached a substantial 150 crore. This figure includes a production cost of 95 crore, which is significantly higher than the average spend for the rom-com genre in India. A major portion of this budget has been utilized for extensive 70-day filming schedules across various international locations, particularly in Europe. The aim is to provide a lavish visual experience that justifies a theatrical visit, a strategy Maddock has been successfully using with their recent hits. The talent associated with the film also commands a significant share of the investment. The combined fees for the lead actors—Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna—are reported to be around 35 crore. Additionally, the makers have allocated 20 crore for print and publicity to ensure a grand marketing campaign ahead of its June 19 release. When you sum up the production, talent, and marketing costs, the total investment hits the 150 crore mark, placing it in the same league as high-budget urban entertainers like Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Romantic comedies in Hindi cinema have rarely been mounted on such a grand scale. While the original Cocktail was produced for around 30–35 crore and Love Aaj Kal (2020) was budgeted in the 45–60 crore range, recent films like Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar pushed the genre into bigger-budget territory. Cocktail 2 now joins that league with a reported 150 crore landing cost, reflecting the makers' intent to deliver a premium theatrical experience rather than a conventional rom-com. From a business perspective, the risk seems well-calculated. Maddock Films has built a strong reputation in the market with consistent hits like Stree 2 and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, which has helped them secure lucrative non-theatrical deals. It is estimated that nearly 50 percent of the total budget has already been recovered through pre-sales of digital, satellite, and music rights. This financial cushion allows the producers to be more aggressive with the theatrical presentation. The reunion of Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon is another factor working in the film's favor, especially after the success of their previous collaboration, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. By adding Rashmika Mandanna to the mix and bringing back Homi Adajania—who directed the original 2012 Cocktail—the makers are clearly looking to blend nostalgia with a modern, high-scale cinematic language. As the release date approaches, the focus will remain on whether this massive investment translates into a similar response at the box office.