Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 Wins Big at Box Office

News Desk

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 is enjoying a strong run at the box office, with nostalgia surrounding the actor’s iconic romantic image emerging as a major factor behind the film’s popularity.

According to Indian media reports, Awarapan 2 has collected more than Rs130 crore worldwide in its first four days, including over Rs109 crore from the Indian market. The film also maintained a strong pace on its first Monday, suggesting that its performance has extended beyond the opening weekend.

The film’s box-office performance has attracted attention because it received limited promotion before release and faced criticism from some reviewers over its storyline and performances. Despite this, audiences have continued to visit cinemas in significant numbers.

A major draw appears to be Hashmi himself. The actor became particularly popular among young audiences during the 2000s through films built around romance, heartbreak and emotional storytelling.

The original Awarapan, released in 2007, became an important part of Hashmi’s screen identity. His portrayal of Shivam Pandit, a man struggling with the pain of lost love, along with the film’s popular songs Tera Mera Rishta and To Phir Aao, created a lasting connection with audiences.

Almost 19 years later, Awarapan 2 has returned to that emotional territory, bringing Hashmi back to a character and style familiar to his longtime fans.

The sequel also features actors including Shabana Azmi and Disha Patani, but Hashmi remains the central attraction for many viewers.

The difference in the box-office performance of the two films is significant. Awarapan reportedly earned around Rs7 crore nett in India during its entire theatrical run in 2007, while Awarapan 2 is said to have collected approximately Rs22 crore nett on its opening day alone.

Producer Vishesh Bhatt has also revealed that the sequel initially struggled to find a buyer, but Hashmi’s involvement helped change the project’s prospects.

In recent years, Hashmi has taken on roles outside his established romantic image, including appearances in Ground Zero and Haqq. His return to the style that made him a popular name among young audiences, however, appears to have generated a strong response.

Hashmi has previously said that he made Awarapan 2 because of his fans. The film’s current box-office performance indicates that the connection between the actor and his longtime audience remains strong.

For many viewers who watched Awarapan in 2007, the sequel appears to offer more than a new cinematic experience. Its songs, characters and emotional themes have brought back memories of an earlier era of Bollywood.

The success of Awarapan 2 therefore highlights the lasting influence of nostalgia in cinema, showing how an established connection between an actor and his audience can translate into renewed interest nearly two decades later.