Emraan Hashmi is back as Shivam Pandit, and this time, the return comes with nostalgia, emotion and plenty of action. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Awarapan 2 also stars Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi, Shriya Saran, Puran Gabbi, Suvinder Vicky, Aniruddh Rawal, Atul Kumar, Barun Chanda, Vijayant Kohli and Myrah Shivan.
With a runtime of 140 minutes, the film attempts something that is never easy in Bollywood. It tries to continue the legacy of a cult favourite while creating a new story around its iconic protagonist. The result is a sequel that may not recreate the magic of the 2007 original, but it certainly understands what fans have been waiting for. Ofcourse, Awarapan 2 has already crossed the lifetime collection of original Awarapan in the advance booking itself.
Awarapan 2 Story
Nineteen years have passed since the events of the first Awarapan. Shivam Pandit has survived, but emotionally, he remains trapped in the past. The memories of Aaliyah Hamid continue to haunt him. He spends his days visiting Aaliyah’s grave and carrying the pain of losing the woman he loved. His life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an abandoned baby girl near the cemetery on Aaliyah’s birthday. He names the child Aaliyah. It becomes an emotional connection to the woman he could never forget.
The little Aaliyah grows up in a nearby orphanage, while Shivam silently remains involved in her life. He never tells her who he is, but his affection for the child is evident. Things change when Aaliyah is adopted. Soon after, her adoptive parents are murdered and the girl is kidnapped by a child trafficking network. Interpol officer Samarth informs Shivam about the horrifying development. There is no way Shivam can simply walk away.
To save the child, Shivam is forced to return to the world he had left behind. His old gangster avatar comes alive again as he travels to Bangkok, where Aaliyah and several other children have been taken. His investigation takes him into the dangerous world of drug dealers and criminals. He encounters Amrit (Barun Chanda), his children Zorawar (Puran Gabbi), Zara (Disha Patani), and Sikandar (Aniruddh Rawal), along with the ruthless Nafisa Nawaz (Shabana Azmi). The question is simple but dangerous. Who among them is connected to the human trafficking racket?
As Shivam gets deeper into the criminal underworld, he finds an unlikely emotional connection with Zara. But his priority remains Aaliyah and the other children. The story then turns into a battle of survival, revenge and redemption. Shivam has spent years trying to escape his past. Now, he must embrace it once again to protect someone who reminds him of the only love he has ever known.
Awarapan 2 Movie Review
The biggest challenge before Awarapan 2 was obvious. How do you follow a film that developed a cult following years after its release? The makers could have simply recycled the old formula and filled the screen with references to the first part. Thankfully, that is not the approach here. Awarapan 2 carries the emotional essence of the original while giving Shivam Pandit a new mission.
Vishesh Bhatt and Bilal Siddiqui’s story retains the soul of the first film, while screenplay keeps the narrative engaging. The film understands that audiences are not coming only for action. They are coming to see Shivam again. The screenplay therefore gives enough importance to his emotional journey. His relationship with Aaliyah becomes the heart of the story, while the Bangkok track provides the commercial punch.
Director Nitin Kakkar deserves credit for maintaining the identity of Awarapan. He doesn’t try to make Shivam overly heroic. Instead, he presents him as a damaged man who is still capable of doing the right thing when circumstances demand it. That makes the character easy to root for.
The nostalgia factor has been used intelligently. There are moments that will remind fans of the first film without making the sequel feel completely dependent on it. When Emraan enters his old fearless avatar, the atmosphere changes instantly. His body language alone is enough to bring back memories of the original.
The action is another major strength. There are several whistle-worthy moments, especially when Shivam goes against powerful criminals. The car chase sequence in Bangkok during the first half is superb. The film has enough mass appeal to work well with single-screen audiences.
The antagonist track is also interesting. Zorawar and his equation with the other siblings bring another layer to the story. Puran Gabbi gets a character that is ruthless enough to create genuine conflict. The criminal world feels dangerous without completely overshadowing Shivam’s emotional journey.
However, the film isn’t flawless. The writing could have been tighter. A few twists are predictable and can be anticipated well before they arrive. The romantic track between Shivam and Zara also doesn’t have the impact the makers probably intended. Their chemistry works in parts, but the emotional connection feels underdeveloped compared to Shivam’s relationship with Aaliyah.
The second half feels slightly stretched. Some portions could have been trimmed to make the narrative more effective. The final scene is another point that may divide audiences. Some viewers will appreciate the decision, while others may find it slightly unsatisfying. May be Awarapan 3 on cards.
Music And Technical Aspects
The technical department does a good job of supporting the scale. Vishnu Rao’s cinematography is one of the film’s highlights. The Rajasthan and Bangkok locations are captured beautifully, giving the film a stylish visual identity. The action choreography by Aejaz Gulab and Kawee Sirikhanaerut is intense, although some portions lean heavily towards gore.
The music has an important role because music was such a huge part of the identity of the original Awarapan. The new soundtrack cannot match the iconic status of the first film, but it still works well within the narrative. Tera Mera Rishta Continues and Toh Phir Aao stand out, while Laado, Yeh Awarapan, Ve Junoon and Tumhare Liye add to the emotional atmosphere. Raju Singh’s background score is particularly effective and gives the action sequences the required punch.
Devendra Murdeshwar’s editing is sharp for the most part, though the second half could have benefited from a tighter cut. Overall, the technical execution supports the film’s commercial ambitions without becoming unnecessarily flashy.
Awarapan 2 Performances
Emraan Hashmi is unquestionably the soul of Awarapan 2. This is the Emraan that fans have been waiting to see again. He completely owns Shivam Pandit. His body language, dialogue delivery and controlled intensity work beautifully. More importantly, he understands the emotional baggage that the character carries.
When Shivam is quiet, you can feel his pain. When he becomes violent, you understand what drives him. And when he walks into a confrontation, the screen belongs to him. Emraan brings back the mass appeal of his prime years without making the performance feel dated. It is easily one of his most likeable performances in recent times.
Disha Patani delivers a sincere and stylish performance as Zara. She is growing as an actor and gets several moments to display her emotional side and performs well in the action portions. She also shares a decent equation with Emraan, although the romantic track could have been developed better. Ofcourse, she looked absolutely goregous.
Puran Gabbi makes an impact as Zorawar. He brings the required menace and looks convincing as a dangerous antagonist. His expressions and body language make him stand out, particularly during confrontational moments.
Aniruddh Rawal is impressive as Sikandar. His performance is restrained and effective. Suvinder Vicky is excellent as Jaideep and adds considerable weight to the proceedings whenever he appears. Shabana Azmi, despite having a limited role as Nafisa Nawaz, makes her presence felt. Her character deserved more screen time.
Myrah Shivan is confident as young Aaliyah. She handles the emotional scenes with surprising maturity and shares a believable bond with Emraan. Shriya Saran’s appearance is brief but noticeable and adds an emotional connection to the first film. Shaad Randhawa is there in blink and you miss appearance.
Atul Kumar as Samarth and Vijayant Kohli as Mehmood provide able support. Barun Chanda also fits well into the world of the film. The supporting cast generally does justice to their respective roles.
The film also carries a bittersweet feeling with the presence of late Atul Parchure missing from the franchise. Given his association with original Awarapan, his absence is noticeable. Had he been alive, it would have been wonderful to see him as part of this film.
Final Verdict
Awarapan 2 respects the legacy of the original while giving Shivam Pandit a new story. The film combines nostalgia, emotion, action and mass moments effectively. Emraan Hashmi is terrific and carries the film with tremendous sincerity.
For fans of the 2007 original, this is a film worth watching on the big screen. The moment Shivam Pandit returns to his old avatar, the nostalgia hits hard. The action sequences provide the whistles, the emotional portions provide the heart and Emraan Hashmi provides the soul.
Overall, Awarapan 2 is a nostalgic, emotional and mass-appealing action entertainer that delivers enough to satisfy fans of the franchise. The film is all set for the Blockbuster weekend and will mark the entry of Emraan Hashmi into Rs 150 or even Rs 200 crore club. Do not miss it.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
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