Awarapan 2 Review: Emraan Hashmi is back as Shivam Pandit, and the return has clearly struck a chord with fans of the 2007 cult film Awarapan. Awarapan 2 arrives with enormous expectations, carrying the emotional legacy of its predecessor while taking its central character into a new chapter. Early reactions to the film have praised Hashmi’s performance, the mass appeal of the narrative and the nostalgia built into the sequel.
The biggest attraction remains Emraan Hashmi, who once again steps into the world of Shivam Pandit. His performance gives the character vulnerability and intensity while retaining the restrained screen presence that made Shivam memorable in the first film. For audiences who have followed Hashmi’s career, the sequel also carries the appeal of seeing him return to a role that remains closely associated with his filmography.
Awarapan, released in 2007, developed a strong cult following over the years. The film’s emotional storytelling, music and Emraan Hashmi’s performance helped it gain a dedicated audience long after its theatrical release. That history makes the sequel particularly challenging. Awarapan 2 does not simply have to work as a new film; it also has to live up to the emotional connection audiences have formed with the original.
The sequel takes a different narrative route. At the centre of the story is Shivam’s relationship with a child, which becomes a major emotional thread throughout the film. The storyline also brings the issue of child trafficking into focus from the opening stages. That gives the film a serious social backdrop before it moves into its action-driven and emotional portions.
The film reportedly makes a strong beginning, with the child-trafficking issue established early and clearly. The opening car chase through the streets of Bangkok provides an immediate dose of action and gives the film a fast-paced start. However, the narrative later expands into several subplots, and some of these additions appear to dilute the impact of the central storyline.
Even with those diversions, Shivam Pandit remains the backbone of the film. Writers Bilal Siddiqui and Vishesh Bhatt keep the character at the heart of the screenplay and build the emotional journey around him. The story moves between action, drama and personal conflict, while flashes from the first Awarapan are used to strengthen the connection between the two films.
That nostalgic element is one of the sequel’s most important strengths. Instead of relying entirely on the past, Awarapan 2 uses references and moments from the original to remind viewers of Shivam’s earlier journey. These callbacks give longtime fans a sense of familiarity without completely turning the sequel into a repetition of the first film.
Director Nitin Kakkar also has the difficult task of balancing the expectations associated with Awarapan with the requirements of a new story. His handling of several major sequences stands out, particularly the Bangkok car chase, the backstory involving Disha, Aniruddh Rawal and Puran Gabbi’s parents, and the film’s finale. The direction works best when the emotional stakes and action elements come together.
Emraan Hashmi delivers the film’s strongest performance as Shivam Pandit. He brings an intensity to the character that allows the audience to connect with Shivam’s emotional struggles. At the same time, his performance avoids making the character feel larger than life at every moment. Instead, Hashmi gives Shivam a lived-in quality, allowing vulnerability to sit alongside the action.
For Hashmi, the role also represents a significant return to a character that carries considerable nostalgia. His ability to recreate Shivam’s emotional identity while adapting the character to a new situation becomes one of the film’s biggest advantages. The performance has been described as among the more compelling turns of his career.
Disha Patani also makes an impact with a sincere and emotionally charged performance. Her role adds another layer to the film’s dramatic narrative, while the chemistry between the major characters helps sustain the emotional side of the story.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi brings authority to her scenes, although the film appears to leave audiences wanting more from her character. The moments she gets, however, give her opportunities to deliver the kind of powerful sequences for which she is known.
Puran Gabbi plays the antagonist and makes an effective impression, though his performance can become excessive in certain portions. Aniruddh Rawal approaches his role with conviction, while Surendar Vicky and Vijayant Kohli provide dependable support to the principal cast.
The music remains another important part of the Awarapan identity. Comparisons with the first film are unavoidable because the original developed a strong musical following. Awarapan 2 therefore carries the additional pressure of matching the emotional recall associated with its predecessor. Even so, the sequel’s music adds to its overall appeal and complements the emotional and dramatic portions of the story.
The film’s biggest strength ultimately lies in the combination of Emraan Hashmi’s performance, Shivam Pandit’s emotional journey and the nostalgia surrounding the original. Awarapan 2 does not attempt to simply recreate the formula of the 2007 film. Instead, it takes its central character into a new situation while retaining familiar elements that longtime viewers are likely to appreciate.
There are weaknesses, particularly when the screenplay moves into multiple subplots that could have been streamlined. A tighter narrative might have allowed the child-trafficking storyline and Shivam’s emotional journey to make an even stronger impact. Still, the film’s major sequences, performances and emotional beats help it overcome some of those uneven stretches.
The sequel’s mass-oriented treatment could also work in its favour at the box office. The combination of a recognisable franchise, Emraan Hashmi’s return as Shivam Pandit, action, emotion and nostalgia gives Awarapan 2 several elements that can attract both returning fans and audiences discovering the story for the first time.
For fans of the original Awarapan, the sequel’s biggest selling point is obvious: Shivam Pandit is back. Emraan Hashmi carries that legacy with an intense performance, while Nitin Kakkar attempts to give the character a fresh journey. The result is a sequel that may not replicate every element of the 2007 classic but succeeds in creating its own identity through emotion, action and nostalgia.
On balance, Awarapan 2 emerges as a massy and emotionally driven sequel powered by Emraan Hashmi’s performance. The film’s occasional narrative detours prevent it from being completely flawless, but the central character, strong performances, action set pieces and carefully placed callbacks to the original give it considerable appeal. For viewers waiting years to see Shivam Pandit return, the sequel offers plenty of reasons to revisit that world.