The franchise is as famous for its off-screen battles as its on-screen ones. The first film faced a 15-day ban in Tamil Nadu due to protests, which eventually triggered a national conversation on freedom of expression. Despite these hurdles, it grossed over ₹220 crore, proving that high-concept storytelling has a massive audience in India.

: The plot centers on disrupting a terrorist cell led by Omar Qureshi , who plans to detonate a "dirty bomb" (caesium-137) in New York City. The sequel expands this scope to include plots against three democratic nations.