Awarapan 2 Review: Emraan Hashmi Nostalgia Is Real, So Is The Predictability

After 19 years, Awarapan 2 brings Emraan Hashmi back as Shivam. The sequel carries the mood, music and old-school charm that fans remember from the original. But does it have enough new material to make this return feel worthwhile? Read our review to know!

Awarapan 2 Review

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi
Director: Nitin Kakkar

Runtime: 140 minutes

Where To Watch: In Theatres

Rating: 3/ 5 Stars

Awarapan 2 picks up from the ending of the 2007 film. Shivam survives and later finds an abandoned baby girl near Aaliyah’s grave. Years later, he learns she has been taken to Bangkok by a child-trafficking gang. He becomes an Interpol spy and enters the gang to rescue her. The setup has emotion, danger and a personal reason for Shivam to fight. It also gives the sequel a clear connection to the original.

The biggest problem is that the story feels familiar. Child trafficking has been explored many times, so the film needed sharper writing to stand apart. The screenplay works in parts, especially in the first half, but the twists are too predictable. You can often see where the story is heading. The frequent gunfights also make the middle sections repetitive.

Still, the film understands the kind of old-school crime drama that made Awarapan popular with its audience. It does not try to completely reinvent Shivam. Instead, it leans into his brooding nature, romance, action and emotional baggage. That choice works for nostalgia, but it also makes the film feel like a safer sequel than a fresh one.

Emraan Hashmi is easily the biggest strength. He slips back into Shivam’s brooding style like he never left the role. There is a familiar ease to his performance that fans of the original will enjoy. He brings back the same quiet intensity and effortless cool that defined his 2000s image.

Disha Patani gets a decent part and gives a sincere performance. Shabana Azmi makes an impact in her extended cameo, although her screen time feels too limited. Puran Gabbi is effective as Zorawar, even if he goes slightly over the top at times. Suvindar Vicky also stands out.

The old-school mood works surprisingly well. The returning music adds a strong emotional pull, especially when “Toh Phir Aao” and “Tera Mera Rishta” play in the background. Those moments are clearly designed to make longtime fans remember what they loved about the first film.

The first half stays fairly engaging, and the climax delivers. However, the predictable turns hurt the impact. There are also too many shootouts. At one point, it feels like the characters barely finish one gunfight before entering another.

So, the nostalgia works. The problem is that nostalgia cannot hide every weakness in the screenplay.

The film looks much bigger than its predecessor. Vishnu Rao’s cinematography is one of its strongest features, with Bangkok given a real sense of place. The production design also feels convincing without depending too heavily on artificial backdrops.

Editing could have been tighter, especially during the repetitive portions. The background music supports the mood, while the old songs provide the biggest nostalgia hit. The overall production feels modern enough, even though the storytelling deliberately looks back at the era of the original.

Awarapan 2 knows exactly what its core audience wants. It brings back Emraan’s intense hero, emotional romance, action and songs that still carry plenty of memories.

That nostalgia is genuine, but so is the predictability. The film feels like a comfortable return rather than a bold new chapter. Better writing could have turned this nostalgic comeback into something much stronger.

Yes, but mainly if you are an Emraan Hashmi fan or still have Awarapan’s songs on repeat. Fans of the original will get plenty of nostalgia, familiar music and the return of a character they remember.

Others may find the familiar story and predictable twists difficult to overlook. If you want a fresh crime thriller, this may not be it. If you want old-school Emraan Hashmi on the big screen again, Awarapan 2 delivers enough to make the trip worthwhile.