Mumbai: Emraan Hashmi has finally addressed the long running buzz around Awarapan 2, putting to rest the belief that the sequel is being made only to cash in on nostalgia. The actor has clarified that the film exists due to the availability of the right story rather than the fact that the 2007 cult film has been popular over the years.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Emraan revealed that Awarapan 2 has been in development for nearly seven years. In his view, the makers were never in the rush to declare a follow-up and waited till they discovered a script that truly took the journey of Shivam.
“I am not doing Awarapan 2 for nostalgia. We were holding off on a sequel, but when we read a script that actually took Shivam’s story ahead, we decided to do it. This is not about cashing in,” Emraan said.
A Sequel in the Age of Sequel Fatigue
Emraan’s statement comes at a time when Bollywood sequels are under heavy scrutiny. Viewers have become skeptical of the movies that drag the franchise without a good narrative. There have also been a number of high profile sequels that have failed at the box office.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh recently pointed out that 2025 was a tough year for sequels. He observed that the films such as War 2 and Son Of Sardaar 2 did not do so well, and that people did not accept forced follow ups anymore. According to him, simply adding a number to a successful title is no longer enough. The story has to justify the continuation.
In this context, Awarapan 2 is being positioned as a character driven continuation rather than a brand extension. The music, the motifs of redemption, and the burning acting of Emraan Hashmi as Shivam made the original film by Mohit Suri a cult phenomenon over the years. Naturally, expectations from the sequel are high.
Release Date Shift Explained
On the release front, Awarapan 2 was earlier expected to arrive in theatres in March 2026. However, the film has now been pushed ahead, leading to speculation about a possible box office clash with Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 and Yash’s Toxic.
These rumours have been disapproved by producer Mukesh Bhatt. In an interview with PTI, he explained that it is not related to competition why the delay was caused. Rather, it was due to the health of Emraan Hashmi.
During the shoot, Emraan met with an accident and had to undergo surgery.Physicians have recommended that he should not do any action sequences in 45 days. Consequently, the other action portions will be shot at a later time. The makers are now looking at a May or June 2026 release window.
With its focus firmly on story and character, Awarapan 2 aims to stand apart in a time when sequels are often questioned. Whether it lives up to its cult legacy remains to be seen, but the intent, at least, seems clear.
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