Awarapan 2 release review highlights: Emraan Hashmi set for his best opening, fans can’t get enough of Shivam Pandit

According to Sacnilk, the film had earned ₹3.88 crore net in India from its morning shows, signifying a strong start.

Cinema chain INOX tweeted, “The Independence Weekend movie rush is officially here! 🇮🇳🔥Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947 are set to bring audiences two completely different cinematic experiences – and the numbers are already speaking loud, with 2,50,000+ tickets booked!”

Hindustan Times’ 3.5-star review of Awarapan 2 reads: “Awarapan 2 is a film from another time, and that is both its biggest strength and weakness. It brings back the brooding hero, tragic romance, liberal use of firearms and, most importantly, the music that made the original such a favorite. It doesn’t always keep its pace in check. But there is an old-school charm to its earnestness.” Read the full review here

In his 3.5-star review of the film, Taran Adarsh wrote, “The #SunnyDeol – #RajkumarSantoshi combo gets it right yet again… Unconventional plot, strong emotions, power-packed performances are its USPs… Carries a strong, pertinent message.”

On ticketing platform BookMyShow, Awarapan 2 saw a huge surge in sales on Friday morning, with the pace reaching 20k tickets per hour by noon.

Giving the film four stars in his review of Awarapan 2 on X, trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote, “#EmraanHashmi returns as #ShivamPandit, and what a return it is… He is the SOUL of #Awarapan2… Mass-appealing moments + tremendous nostalgia value… SURE-SHOT SUCCESS.”

Talking to reporters last week, Sunny Deol said, “When you see the film, you will forget what it is. You will be so involved in the cinema that you will come out happy and satisfied. It will make you realise what the Partition was. And how important it is to stand by yourself against all the odds.”

Batwara 1947 director Santoshi said that the crux of the story is human courage and will, not the divide between people. “This is an emotional story. What will stay with you are the characters. The story doesn’t see Hindu or Muslim. The characters see human beings. Ek insaan ke saath ek ghatna hoti hai aur insaan kis tarah se kya karta hai (Something occurs with a human being and how other human beings rally together), that is the story. Toh ek message nahi de raha hoon main. Teacher thode hi hoon (I am not giving a message, I am not a teacher). The film should be good, and people should enjoy it,” he said.

Filmmaker Ramesh Taurani watched Batwara 1947 at a special screening on Wednesday and wrote on Instagram, “Batwara 1947 is a deeply sensitive, moving and truly humanity-glorifying film that deserves to be watched First Day, First Show. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of compassion, especially during the darkest chapters of our history. @iamsunnydeol delivers a terrific and deeply impactful performance. And what a joy it is to see @realpz doing what she does best on the big screen. @azmishabana18, @alifazal9 and @imkarandeol are all exceptional in their respective roles, bringing such depth, intensity and authenticity to the film. @abhimanyusingh.44 is terrific as the villain, creating a character that is both compelling and deeply unsettling.”

Emraan Hashmi’s return as Shivam Pandit has generated enormous buzz. The film minted ₹8 crore in advance bookings, selling over 2.6 lakh tickets for its first day.

According to Sacnilk, the Sunny Deol film sold 65k tickets for its opening day, grossing ₹1.76 crore in advance bookings.

As two big films arrive in theatres on Independence Day eve, Bollywood trade insiders are bullish about a good time, with estimates saying this could be a ₹120 crore weekend for Hindi films.