Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2 achieves career-best box office opening

Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 has achieved a major box office milestone, marking the actor’s biggest solo career opening. The sequel to the 2007 cult classic earned approximately Rs 21 crore to Rs 23.4 crore net in India on its first day, with a worldwide gross reported around Rs 27.2 crore. This performance significantly outpaces the original film’s lifetime earnings.

Directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, the film stars Hashmi as Shivam Pandit alongside Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi. The plot follows Shivam as he becomes embroiled in an international human trafficking syndicate after discovering an abandoned child.

Critical and audience reception has been mixed. While many praise Hashmi’s intense performance and the film’s action and nostalgia, some reviewers have criticized the sequel for being formulaic or lacking the emotional depth and musical soul of the original. Additionally, the film’s marketing has faced online scrutiny regarding similarities between its poster and the series Homeland. During recent promotions, Hashmi teased the possibility of an Awarapan 3 following the franchise's strong start.