Emraan Hashmi calls Awarapan 2 his best film yet, 20 years on
Synopsis
Emraan Hashmi is calling Awarapan 2 his best film yet — a striking claim given that the 2007 original barely registered at the box office. That a cult-favourite underperformer is getting a full sequel, with a new cast and a Bangkok-set child trafficking storyline, makes this one of the more unusual franchise revivals in recent Bollywood memory.
Key Takeaways
Emraan Hashmi has called Awarapan 2 his ‘best film yet,’ describing the franchise revival as a ‘rarest-of-rare phenomenon.’ The original Awarapan (2007) did not find its audience on release, according to Hashmi, making the sequel’s existence unusual in Bollywood.
Awarapan 2 is directed by Nitin Kakkar and stars Emraan Hashmi , Disha Patani , and Shabana Azmi .
The film follows former gangster Shivam Pandit as he works to bust a child trafficking racket in Bangkok .
The sequel released in theatres on 14 August 2026 .
Actor Emraan Hashmi has opened up about the emotional significance of Awarapan 2, calling it his best film yet and describing the franchise's revival as a “rarest-of-rare phenomenon” in Bollywood. The sequel, released in cinemas on 14 August 2026, marks the return of a franchise whose original 2007 film struggled to find its footing with audiences at the time of its release.
Emraan's Personal Connection With the Sequel
In a heartfelt note shared publicly, Hashmi drew a clear distinction between films he has worked on and those he is genuinely proud of — placing Awarapan 2 firmly in the latter category. “There are films you work on, and then there are films you are genuinely proud to be a part of. Awarapan 2 belongs to the latter,” he wrote. “A film that didn’t find its audience two decades ago returning with a sequel, determined to rewrite history at the box office.”
Hashmi also urged audiences to experience the film on the big screen, describing it as “an emotionally charged action musical, mounted on a stunning visual scale and powered by incredibly diverse, timeless music.” He signed off with a simple declaration: “Awarapan 2 — My Best Film Yet.”
The Original That Missed Its Moment
The first Awarapan, released in 2007, was a crime drama that earned a cult following over the years despite a muted theatrical reception. Hashmi has acknowledged that the original “did not find its audience” at the time — making the sequel’s existence all the more unusual in an industry where underperforming films rarely get a second chance at the franchise format. Notably, this revival is among a small number of Bollywood sequels built on the back of a film that underperformed on first release.
What Awarapan 2 Is About
Awarapan 2, directed by Nitin Kakkar, stars Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, and Shabana Azmi. The film follows former gangster Shivam Pandit, who is revealed to have survived a fatal attempt on his life roughly two decades earlier, as he embarks on a mission to dismantle a child trafficking racket in Bangkok after a baby girl he gave up for adoption goes missing. Hashmi credited Vishesh, the creator of the Awarapan world, as the driving force behind the project. “His vision and unwavering conviction shaped everything and everyone,” he said.
Cast, Creative Team, and Release
The film’s ensemble cast and its blend of action, emotion, and music have been central to Hashmi’s promotional pitch. He described the experience of working alongside “an incredible cast, musical genius, and creative brilliance” as “super special.” Awarapan 2 hit theatres on 14 August 2026, a day before Independence Day — a high-stakes release window in the Indian film calendar. How it performs at the box office will determine whether this franchise revival becomes a template others follow.
Point of View
But it also points to a real shift in how Bollywood is mining its back catalogue. Studios are increasingly willing to revisit films that underperformed the first time, betting that streaming-era rediscovery has built the audience that theatres never delivered. The risk is that cult nostalgia rarely converts to opening-weekend numbers. If Awarapan 2 succeeds, it will embolden a wave of ‘delayed franchise’ attempts; if it stumbles, the lesson will be that cult affection and box-office appetite are not the same thing.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Awarapan 2 about?
Awarapan 2 follows former gangster Shivam Pandit, who survived a fatal attempt on his life two decades earlier and sets out to bust a child trafficking racket in Bangkok after a baby girl he gave up for adoption goes missing. The film is directed by Nitin Kakkar and stars Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, and Shabana Azmi.
When was Awarapan 2 released?
Awarapan 2 released in theatres on 14 August 2026, a day before Independence Day — one of Bollywood’s high-stakes release windows.
Why did Emraan Hashmi call Awarapan 2 a rarest-of-rare phenomenon?
Hashmi used the phrase because the original 2007 Awarapan did not find its audience on first release, making a full theatrical sequel — nearly two decades later — an uncommon occurrence in the Indian film industry.
Who directed Awarapan 2?
Awarapan 2 was directed by Nitin Kakkar. Hashmi also credited Vishesh, the creator of the Awarapan world, as the creative force whose vision and conviction shaped the project.
Is Awarapan 2 a sequel to the 2007 film?
Yes, Awarapan 2 is a direct sequel to the 2007 film Awarapan. The original developed a cult following over the years despite a muted theatrical performance, and the sequel picks up the story of its central character, Shivam Pandit.
