{"id":22854,"date":"2026-08-15T10:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=22854"},"modified":"2026-08-15T10:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:13:34","slug":"emraan-hashmi-returns-as-shivam-pandit-after-19-years-as-awarapan-2-opens-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=22854","title":{"rendered":"Emraan Hashmi Returns as Shivam Pandit After 19 Years as \u2018Awarapan 2\u2019 Opens Strong<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nDragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

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 \u201cAwarapan 2\u201d drawing strong audience interest on its opening day Friday.<\/p>\n

The original \u201cAwarapan,\u201d released in 2007, was not a major commercial success during its initial theatrical run. Over the years, however, its emotional narrative, music and Hashmi\u2019s portrayal of Shivam developed a strong following, particularly among younger audiences, eventually giving the film cult status.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Early box-office tracking indicated a strong opening. By around 8 p.m. Indian time on Friday, the film had registered approximately \u20b915.57 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.<\/p>\n

The principal attraction surrounding the sequel has been Hashmi\u2019s 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\u2019s most recognisable screen characters.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAwarapan 2\u201d is also entering theatres alongside Sunny Deol\u2019s historical drama \u201cBatwara 1947,\u201d creating a significant Independence Day weekend box-office contest between two films targeting different audience segments.<\/p>\n

Early advance bookings and opening-day attendance have given \u201cAwarapan 2\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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