Emraan Hashmi's much-anticipated film Awarapan 2 has proven its detractors wrong by raking in a staggering ₹50 crore in just two days at the domestic box office, surpassing the lifetime collections of several of his previous successful films. The film, which hit theaters on August 14, had initially faced a lukewarm response from distributors, with producer Vishesh Bhatt revealing in an interview that no one was interested in buying the rights to the movie.
Despite clashing with Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947, Awarapan 2 has managed to carve a niche for itself at the box office, with its strong opening day collections surpassing the lifetime business of its 2007 predecessor, Awarapan, which had collected ₹7.75 crore net. The film has also surpassed the final collections of several of Emraan's successful films, including Haq (₹20 crore), Raaz 2 (₹25.50 crore), Ek Thi Daayan (₹26 crore), and Jannat (₹30 crore), with a total of ₹55 crore at the domestic box office and ₹72.90 crore worldwide.
In an interview with Zoom before the film's release, Vishesh Bhatt had expressed his concerns about the lack of interest in Awarapan 2, stating, "If you want to watch films like Awarapan, you will have to support it in cinemas. Otherwise, how would I know that you are interested in that? If I know, I will put in my hard-earned money to cash-grab it. Let me tell you, Awarapan 2 is not a cash grab film." He further emphasized that the film had not been made to exploit the market, but rather to tell a unique story that resonates with audiences.
Awarapan 2, directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, is a sequel to the 2007 film Awarapan, which initially underperformed at the box office but later gained cult status. The film brings back Emraan Hashmi in his iconic role as Shivam Pandit, alongside Shabana Azmi, Disha Patani, and Suvinder Vicky. The movie follows Shivam's story after he survives the six bullets fired at him in the first film, as he rescues a baby, Aliyah, and grows attached to her, only to learn from Interpol that she has been pushed into a child trafficking racket.
The film's success is a testament to Emraan's enduring popularity and the audience's willingness to support unique stories that resonate with them. With its strong run at the box office, Awarapan 2 has proven that with the right support, even the most unlikely films can achieve success and leave a lasting impact on the audience.
