# Awarapan 2 earns mixed reviews, Emraan Hashmi’s return hailed 2026-08-14T11:13:51+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The much-awaited sequel Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi as Shivam Pandit, hit theatres on August 14 with mixed early reactions. While many viewers praised Hashmi's performance, the film's reliance on nostalgia and its music divided audiences. Bollywoodlife gave it 3.5 stars, noting the sequel moves the character forward. However, Binged called it 'rushed nostalgia baiting without any story,' criticising the underuse of Shabana Azmi and Disha Patani's limited role. Trade estimates suggest an opening day collection of around Rs 20 crore, driven by strong advance bookings, as per Sacnilk data cited by Bollywoodlife. X reactions showed a mix of praise for the first half's engagement and criticism for predictable thriller mechanics. Hashmi's portrayal of an older, wounded Shivam remains the film's strongest asset. ## Coverage - indiatvnews.com - bollywoodlife.com - bollywoodlife.com - binged.com Tags: Awarapan 2, Bollywood, Emraan Hashmi, Shivam Pandit Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/awarapan-2-review-emraan-hashmis-shivam-pandit-returns/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/awarapan-2-review-emraan-hashmis-shivam-pandit-returns/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.