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Mumbai: Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 has delivered a strong box-office performance within just two days of its theatrical release, crossing the Rs 50 crore mark in India. The success is particularly notable because producer Vishesh Bhatt has revealed that distributors were initially reluctant to buy the sequel, with “nobody” willing to come forward for the film.

The film, which released on August 14, has turned audience interest in the 2007 cult film into a strong theatrical response. The sequel stars Emraan Hashmi alongside Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and Suvinder Vicky.

Awarapan 2 crosses Rs 50 crore

Awarapan 2 has recorded a substantial jump in collections on its second day.

According to box-office figures reported by NDTV, the film collected Rs 33.75 crore net in India on Day 2, taking its two-day domestic net collection to Rs 55.75 crore. Its India gross collection stood at Rs 66.90 crore at that stage.

The film had collected Rs 22 crore net on its opening day, giving it a two-day total that has already crossed the Rs 50 crore milestone. The opening was also reported as Emraan Hashmi’s biggest first-day collection of his career.

Producer says distributors initially refused

The box-office success becomes more striking in light of Vishesh Bhatt’s comments about the film’s pre-release journey.

The producer revealed that the sequel initially struggled to attract distributors. According to Bhatt, there was a point when “nobody came to buy the film”, despite the team having faith in the project.

The reluctance reportedly stemmed from the commercial performance of the original Awarapan, which did not make a major impact at the box office when it released in 2007.

The original film subsequently developed a strong following over the years and acquired cult status, creating a fan base that eventually helped generate interest in the sequel.

From box-office disappointment to cult favourite

The first Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri, was released in 2007 with Emraan Hashmi in the lead role.

Although the film received positive responses from critics, it was not a major theatrical success at the time. Over the years, however, its emotional storyline, music and Hashmi’s performance helped it gain a dedicated audience.

That delayed appreciation became an important factor in building anticipation for Awarapan 2, nearly two decades after the original.

The sequel brings Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit, the character associated with the franchise’s original story.

Emraan Hashmi returns as Shivam Pandit

The sequel marks Emraan Hashmi’s return to one of his most recognised characters after approximately 19 years.

Awarapan 2 has been positioned as a romantic-action drama with themes of revenge, redemption and emotional conflict. Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and Suvinder Vicky are also part of the cast.

The film is directed by Nitin Kakkar, while Vishesh Bhatt serves as producer.

The return of Hashmi as Shivam Pandit has been one of the film’s biggest attractions, particularly among viewers who discovered the original film after its theatrical run.

Strong Independence Day weekend

The sequel arrived in cinemas during the Independence Day weekend, a period traditionally considered important for Hindi film releases.

Awarapan 2 opened alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta’s Batwara 1947, creating a direct box-office competition between the two releases.

So far, Awarapan 2 has established a clear lead. Its two-day domestic net collection of Rs 55.75 crore is considerably ahead of Batwara 1947, according to reported figures.

Worldwide collection also climbs

The film’s strong domestic performance has been accompanied by a healthy overseas response.

According to reported figures, Awarapan 2 had reached an India gross of Rs 66.90 crore after two days, while its worldwide collection stood at approximately Rs 72.90 crore.

Another report put the worldwide gross at around Rs 66 crore, reflecting differences in the latest available box-office updates.

The consistent trend across reports, however, is clear: the sequel has enjoyed a strong opening weekend.

Audience nostalgia drives the sequel

One of the biggest factors behind the film’s performance appears to be nostalgia.

The original Awarapan may not have succeeded commercially in 2007, but its popularity grew significantly through television, music and subsequent digital exposure.

For many viewers, Hashmi’s return to the character represents a continuation of a story they have remained emotionally connected to for years.

That delayed popularity has now translated into significant theatrical interest for the sequel.

Awarapan 3 possibility teased

The success of Awarapan 2 has also prompted discussion about another instalment.

Reports indicate that Emraan Hashmi has hinted at an Awarapan 3, although a formal announcement regarding the third film has not been made.

If the sequel maintains its current momentum, the franchise could potentially expand further.

For now, however, the focus remains on Awarapan 2 and its theatrical run.

A surprising turnaround for the franchise

The journey of Awarapan 2 is particularly noteworthy because of the contrast between its pre-release prospects and its early box-office performance.

A project that reportedly struggled to find distributors has crossed Rs 50 crore in domestic net collections within two days.

The turnaround demonstrates the unpredictable nature of theatrical cinema, particularly when a film has an established character, music legacy and nostalgic appeal.

Conclusion

Awarapan 2 has emerged as one of the biggest early successes of the Independence Day weekend, collecting Rs 55.75 crore net in India in its first two days and crossing the Rs 50 crore milestone.

The achievement is even more significant given producer Vishesh Bhatt’s revelation that distributors were initially hesitant to acquire the film. The original Awarapan had underperformed theatrically in 2007 before developing a strong cult following, and that delayed popularity appears to have translated into substantial interest in the sequel.

With Emraan Hashmi returning as Shivam Pandit and the film continuing to outperform Batwara 1947, Awarapan 2 has given the franchise a remarkably strong second innings.