Shivam Pandit returns with the same wounded eyes, the same dangerous calm and the same feeling that he has never really escaped his past. That is where Awarapan 2 gets its strongest advantage, and also its biggest problem. The film understands why audiences still remember the 2007 original, but it does not always find a story powerful enough to justify bringing Shivam back after 19 years.
Directed by Nitin Kakkar and written by Bilal Siddiqi, the sequel brings back Emraan Hashmi as Shivam and places him in a new criminal conflict involving redemption, sacrifice and love. Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and Suvinder Vicky join him in important roles, while the film also reconnects itself with the emotional world of the first movie. Awarapan 2 released in theatres on 14 August 2026, and at the time of this review, no streaming platform has announced its OTT release.
Shivam Pandit's return is the real reason to watch
The film knows exactly what the audience wants from Shivam. Instead of turning him into a completely different action hero, the screenplay keeps his damaged personality at the centre. He still carries the weight of everything that happened before, and that history gives even his quieter scenes more meaning than the usual hero introduction.
More importantly, Emraan Hashmi does not try too hard to recreate his younger self. His performance feels older, more controlled and more tired. That works in the film's favour. Shivam now looks like someone who has spent years carrying emotional scars rather than someone simply waiting for another action sequence.
However, the screenplay does not always give him enough fresh material. The character remains compelling largely because Hashmi understands Shivam so well. Whenever the writing becomes predictable, his eyes and body language bring back the old character. That is an important distinction because without Hashmi, much of the sequel's emotional weight would have been considerably weaker.
The new conflict gives Shivam another reason to enter the darkness
The story sends Shivam back towards the criminal world and builds the conflict around another woman in danger, while his own unresolved past continues to affect his decisions. The basic idea fits the character. Shivam has always been driven by sacrifice, guilt and the need to protect someone else, so the sequel does not completely abandon the emotional foundation of the first film.
Yet this is also where I felt the screenplay playing too safely. The central conflict works as a crime-action setup, but it rarely reaches the emotional intensity that made the original memorable for many viewers. The first Awarapan had a sense of tragedy hanging over its characters. Here, the danger feels more conventional for long stretches.
That does not make the film boring. In fact, the first half moves with decent energy, and the action keeps the narrative moving. Still, the emotional stakes do not always grow at the same speed as the physical conflict. Consequently, some dramatic moments arrive with less impact than the film clearly wants.
Disha Patani adds emotion, but the relationship needed more depth
Disha Patani plays Zara, who becomes an important part of Shivam's new emotional journey. Her presence gives the film a softer counterpoint to Shivam's violent world, and the chemistry between the two actors works best when the film allows their characters to communicate through silence rather than lengthy dialogue.
At the same time, their relationship feels underwritten in places. The film wants the audience to care deeply about what happens between Shivam and Zara, but it does not always spend enough time building that connection. As a result, some emotional scenes feel more dependent on Emraan's performance and the music than on the strength of the writing itself. The Indian Express review also noted that the relationship brings an emotional layer but does not reach the depth it could have.
Disha is perfectly serviceable in the role, but this is clearly Emraan's film. Her character supports Shivam's journey more than it develops into an equally powerful dramatic force of its own.
Shabana Azmi brings authority, while Puran Gabbi gets the more memorable villainous edge
Shabana Azmi plays Nafisa, one of the key figures in Shivam's new conflict. She brings the kind of authority that immediately makes her scenes feel important. Even when the screenplay does not give her enough room, Azmi knows how to hold the frame without forcing the performance.
However, Nafisa's character does not get the development that her presence promises. The idea of placing Shivam against a powerful new opponent is interesting, but the screenplay could have explored that conflict with greater complexity.
Puran Gabbi, meanwhile, makes a stronger impression as the antagonist. His performance has an unpredictable quality that makes his scenes more watchable. Some audience reactions have specifically picked him out as one of the film's surprises, while other viewers felt the villains lacked enough weight or stakes. That difference in response says a lot about the character: the performance attracts attention, but the writing does not always give the villain enough substance.
Suvinder Vicky also leaves an impression as Jaideep. He brings restraint to the role rather than playing it like another loud action character. His performance adds some maturity to the supporting cast, although his screen time remains limited compared with Hashmi.
Nitin Kakkar keeps the film grounded, but the sequel misses some of the old mood
Nitin Kakkar does not turn Awarapan 2 into a completely different kind of film. He keeps the focus on crime, action and emotional conflict, while allowing Shivam's personal history to remain part of the storytelling. That approach helps the sequel feel connected to its predecessor rather than looking like a random action film carrying the Awarapan name.
Still, I missed the darker emotional atmosphere associated with the original. The sequel has enough mood and several strong visual moments, but it does not consistently create the same sense of loneliness. The camera work by Vishnu Rao gives the film a polished look, and the locations add scale to the crime narrative.
The action sequences work better when they stay close to Shivam's character. Whenever the film uses action to reveal his anger, desperation or determination, the scenes carry weight. On the other hand, some stylised action moments feel familiar and less convincing. A few audience members have also criticised the slow-motion action and called parts of the action language dated.
The first half keeps the grip, but the final stretch could have been tighter
Pacing becomes one of the film's biggest strengths and weaknesses. The first half has enough movement to keep the story engaging, particularly when Shivam's mission starts taking shape. The action, emotional flashbacks and familiar references give longtime fans enough material to stay invested.
After the interval, however, the film becomes less consistent. The conflict takes longer to reach its final stage, and some scenes repeat emotions that the audience has already understood. The Indian Express review similarly found that the second half loses pace and that the climax runs longer than necessary.
I felt the same issue while watching the film. A tighter edit could have made the final act more powerful. The editor, Devendra Murdeshwar, had plenty of strong material to work with, but the film would have benefited from cutting a few stretches where the drama stops moving forward.
The music understands the Awarapan identity, but nostalgia has its limits
Music remains one of the most important parts of the Awarapan identity, so the sequel had a difficult job. The film brings back familiar musical memories while adding new material. Jeet Gannguli, Amaal Mallik and Mithoon Sharma receive music credits, with Raju Singh credited for the background score in the available production credits.
Ve Junoon and Yeh Awarapan carry the new soundtrack, while the film also uses the musical legacy of the original. The nostalgia works, particularly for viewers who still associate the franchise with songs such as Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta.
Personally, I found the musical callbacks more effective than some of the new material. The older sound immediately brings Shivam's world back, while the new songs do not always reach the emotional recall of the original soundtrack. That is a very high standard, of course, but Awarapan 2 itself chooses to lean on that musical memory, so the comparison becomes unavoidable.
The background sound design also helps several action and emotional scenes. Audience reactions have repeatedly mentioned the sound and musical nostalgia as positives, although many viewers still feel that the soundtrack does not match the first film.
The film works best when it stops trying to recreate 2007
There is a strange tension running through Awarapan 2. The film needs the original because Shivam's popularity comes from it, but every time it depends too heavily on nostalgia, the new story loses some of its identity.
The stronger moments come when the film allows the older Shivam to exist in a newer world. Emraan's age actually helps here. His face carries more history now, and that makes the character feel naturally different from the man audiences saw in 2007.
On the other hand, several familiar beats remind you that the filmmakers are trying to satisfy fans of the first film. For longtime viewers, those moments can be enjoyable fan service. For someone expecting a completely fresh crime thriller, they may feel formulaic.
How the audience is responding to Shivam's comeback
Early audience reaction has been mixed but generally positive towards Emraan Hashmi himself. Many viewers have praised his screen presence, nostalgia value and emotional performance. Some have also liked Puran Gabbi's antagonist and the way the film uses songs from the original. At the same time, several viewers have criticised the screenplay, emotional depth, villain development and the length of the final act.
That split response feels fair to me. Awarapan 2 is neither the disaster that some disappointed fans may call it nor the perfect continuation that nostalgia-driven expectations promised. It sits somewhere in between. The film gives Emraan Hashmi a strong platform to revisit one of his most remembered characters, but the screenplay does not consistently give that return the same emotional force.
For fans of the original, the theatrical experience has obvious value. Hearing those familiar musical cues, seeing Shivam again and watching Hashmi carry the character with a more mature screen presence can be enough to make the ticket worthwhile. New viewers, however, may find themselves watching a fairly straightforward crime-action drama with a heavy dose of franchise nostalgia.
For me, the biggest positive is Emraan Hashmi. He does not simply repeat Shivam Pandit. He brings the character into a different stage of life, and that gives the performance a quiet sadness that works. The biggest weakness is the screenplay, which has a workable conflict but does not develop it with enough emotional complexity.
Therefore, Awarapan 2 works best when approached as Shivam Pandit's second chapter rather than as an attempt to recreate the exact feeling of the 2007 film. It has good action, attractive visuals, capable performances and enough nostalgia to keep fans engaged. However, it needed a sharper script and a more emotionally powerful second half to truly stand beside its predecessor.
My take: Watch it in theatres if Emraan Hashmi's Shivam Pandit still means something to you. Go with realistic expectations, because the film delivers nostalgia and a decent crime-action ride more consistently than it delivers the emotional punch of the original.
Frequently Asked Questions about the movie
When was Awarapan 2 released?
Awarapan 2 released in theatres on 14 August 2026 in India and the United States.
Who plays Shivam Pandit in Awarapan 2?
Emraan Hashmi returns as Shivam Pandit, the central character from the 2007 film Awarapan.
Who directed Awarapan 2?
Nitin Kakkar directed the sequel, with Bilal Siddiqi credited as writer. Sanjay Masoomm also receives dialogue-writing credit in the available production information.
Who are the main actors in Awarapan 2?
The principal cast includes Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi and Suvinder Vicky, along with several supporting actors.
What character does Disha Patani play?
Disha Patani plays Zara, a character who becomes closely connected with Shivam's new emotional journey.
Who plays Nafisa in Awarapan 2?
Shabana Azmi plays Nafisa, one of the important figures in the film's central conflict.
Who composed the music for Awarapan 2?
The available production credits list Jeet Gannguli, Amaal Mallik and Mithoon Sharma among the composers, with Raju Singh credited for the background music.
Does Awarapan 2 use music from the original film?
Yes. The sequel uses the musical legacy of the original, including familiar material associated with songs such as Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta, alongside new songs such as Ve Junoon and Yeh Awarapan.
Is Awarapan 2 connected to the first Awarapan?
Yes. The sequel continues Shivam Pandit's story and uses his past as an important part of the new narrative. It is designed as a continuation rather than a completely separate story.
Is Awarapan 2 available on OTT?
At the time of this review, no OTT streaming release has been announced. The film is currently available through its theatrical release.
Is Awarapan 2 suitable for fans of the original?
Yes, particularly for viewers who remember Shivam Pandit and the music of the first film. However, viewers should not expect the sequel to reproduce the exact emotional impact of the 2007 movie. Early audience reactions show that nostalgia, Emraan Hashmi and the music are among the film's strongest attractions, while the screenplay has received more mixed reactions.
Is Awarapan 2 worth watching in theatres?
It is worth considering in theatres if you are an Emraan Hashmi or Awarapan fan and enjoy crime-action dramas with emotional elements. If you are mainly looking for a story as emotionally strong as the original, the sequel may feel less satisfying.