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The romantics, the late-night melancholics, the millennials, and the guardians of nostalgia have all aligned for the season's biggest cinematic event: Awarapan 2. Headlined by Emraan Hashmi, the sequel to the 2007 cult is pacing for a big Friday opening at the box office — even as it locks horns with Batwara 1947, the Sunny Deol-led period drama backed by Aamir Khan.
According to trade estimates, Awarapan 2 is gearing up to deliver the biggest solo opening of Hashmi’s career, with day one projections comfortably targeting ₹20 crore on Friday, August 14.
The projected opening day tally is set to eclipse the lifetime earnings of the original 2007 Awarapan, which finished its theatrical run with an all-India nett of nearly ₹7 crore before attaining cult status over the years. Directed by Mohit Suri, the initial film built an enduring legacy driven by a blockbuster soundtrack, memorable dialogues, and Hashmi’s acclaimed performance as a gangster on a path to redemption.
The sequel sees Nitin Kakkar (Filmistan) take over directorial duties, working off a script by Bilal Siddiqui, who had penned Aryan Khan’s directorial debut series Bads of Bollywood.
Advance bookings for Awarapan 2 have built substantial momentum heading into the extended weekend. Across more than 5,000 shows nationwide, the film has already sold over one lakh tickets for day one alone, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
If initial audience reception holds strong, trade analysts project a massive surge over the weekend — spanning Saturday (Independence Day) through Sunday — pushing the film’s opening weekend toward an estimated ₹80 crore domestic nett.
Meanwhile, Batwara 1947 is pacing for a slow opening. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the period drama will rely heavily on positive word-of-mouth to sustain momentum at the box-office.