Karthi’s return as the spy-hero in Sardar 2 has opened to a closely contested box-office battle in Tamil cinema, with the film finding its biggest advantage outside the domestic market. The PS Mithran directorial, which hit theatres alongside Soori’s Mandaadi on Thursday, has registered a stronger worldwide opening, even as its Tamil Nadu business trails its rival.

Across 3,950 shows, Sardar 2 has grossed Rs 6.80 crore worldwide on its opening day. The film has earned Rs 5.30 crore from India, including Rs 2.40 crore from Tamil Nadu, while its overseas markets have contributed Rs 1.50 crore. Its India net stands at Rs 4.50 crore, with an overall occupancy of 24.5%.

The Karthi-starrer has, however, found itself behind Mandaadi in the domestic market. Soori’s film has recorded an India gross of Rs 5.55 crore, Rs 25 lakh more than Sardar 2, despite running across 2,953 shows, nearly 1,000 fewer shows than the Karthi-starrer. Mandaadi has also led in Tamil Nadu with Rs 4 crore, compared to Sardar 2’s Rs 2.40 crore.

Where Sardar 2 pulls ahead is its performance beyond India. Its Rs 1.50 crore overseas gross takes its worldwide opening to Rs 6.80 crore, while Mandaadi has earned Rs 1 crore from international markets, taking its worldwide gross to Rs 6.55 crore. The difference between the two films ultimately stands at Rs 25 lakh in favour of Sardar 2.

The domestic split for Sardar 2 also indicates that the film’s opening was not driven by Tamil Nadu alone. Along with Rs 2.40 crore from Tamil Nadu, it earned Rs 2.20 crore from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Rs 40 lakh from Karnataka, Rs 20 lakh from Kerala and Rs 10 lakh from the rest of India.

Sardar 2 also stars SJ Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Ashika Ranganath, Yogi Babu, Achyuth Kumar, Balaji Sakthivel, and Rajisha Vijayan, among others. The film is produced by S Lakshman Kumar and Ishan Saksena, with A Venkatesh on board as the co-producer. The banners backing the film are Prince Pictures and Ivy Entertainment.