Emraan Hashmi was unsure about Awarapan 2, but the Vishesh Bhatt film opens with a banging Rs 23.4 crore

There was a time when Awarapan 2 existed more as an idea than a film. There was no finished script, no confirmed cast and no footage. What existed was Vishesh Bhatt’s belief that the story of Shivam Pandit had not ended with the first film.

That conviction eventually became Awarapan 2, which opened to Rs 23.4 crore India nett on August 14, 2026. The opening also marked Emraan Hashmi’s biggest solo hero opening, giving the long gestating sequel a strong start at the box office.

The journey, however, began much before the cameras rolled. When Vishesh Bhatt first discussed the possibility of a sequel with Emraan Hashmi, even the actor was unsure about returning to the world of Awarapan. A sequel was not an obvious decision, particularly for a story that had already built its own identity.

Bhatt, however, continued to push the idea. His starting point was simple: Shivam Pandit still had more story to tell. That belief became the creative foundation around which the sequel was developed.

Bilal Siddiqui then came on board to give that idea its language, while director Nitin Kakkar took the story from the page to the screen. The film therefore took shape through a series of creative decisions that began with one producer refusing to let the idea go.

Now, with Awarapan 2 in cinemas, that original question has an answer at the box office. The film has opened at Rs 23.4 crore India nett, while also giving Emraan Hashmi his biggest opening as a solo hero.

Presented by Mukesh Bhatt and Vishesh Films and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, Awarapan 2 is currently running in cinemas worldwide, with Pen Marudhar handling its all India theatrical distribution.

For Vishesh Bhatt, the significance of the opening goes beyond a number. The sequel started with a belief that there was another chapter worth telling. Years later, audiences have finally had the chance to decide whether he was right.