Emraan Hashmi Returns as Shivam Pandit After 19 Years as ‘Awarapan 2’ Opens Strong

Dragon Media News Desk

Indian actor Emraan Hashmi has returned to the big screen as Shivam Pandit nearly 19 years after the character first became closely associated with his career, with “Awarapan 2” drawing strong audience interest on its opening day Friday.

The original “Awarapan,” released in 2007, was not a major commercial success during its initial theatrical run. Over the years, however, its emotional narrative, music and Hashmi’s portrayal of Shivam developed a strong following, particularly among younger audiences, eventually giving the film cult status.

Directed by Nitin Kakkar, the sequel brings Hashmi back as Shivam, with Disha Patani in a leading role and veteran actress Shabana Azmi also appearing in the film. The production comes from Vishesh Films.

Early box-office tracking indicated a strong opening. By around 8 p.m. Indian time on Friday, the film had registered approximately ₹15.57 crore in domestic net collections, according to preliminary live tracking. The final opening-day figure will become clearer after late-night screenings are fully accounted for.

The principal attraction surrounding the sequel has been Hashmi’s return as Shivam Pandit. In the first film, Shivam emerged as a conflicted figure moving through love, crime, sacrifice and the search for redemption, eventually becoming one of the actor’s most recognisable screen characters.

The sequel retains that emotional and action-oriented framework while placing Shivam within a new conflict. The filmmakers have sought to preserve the emotional identity and musical legacy associated with the original while updating the production with contemporary action and visual treatment.

“Awarapan 2” is also entering theatres alongside Sunny Deol’s historical drama “Batwara 1947,” creating a significant Independence Day weekend box-office contest between two films targeting different audience segments.

Early advance bookings and opening-day attendance have given “Awarapan 2” considerable momentum. Its reception also illustrates a wider trend in Indian cinema in which established characters and films with strong cultural memory are being revisited for a new generation of audiences.

For Hashmi, the film represents more than the continuation of a franchise. It reconnects him with one of the defining characters of his career almost two decades after the original film.

The decisive commercial test will now come over the Independence Day holiday and the weekend, when sustained audience response will determine whether nostalgia around Shivam Pandit can translate into long-term box-office success.