This Friday, Emraan Hashmi made a comeback at the box office with a banger. In terms of footfalls, Awarapan 2 has been a surprise. The Hindi-language action thriller film, co-starring Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi, however, is not a favourite of film critics.
The biggest criticism is aimed at the script. Reviewers feel the story, centered on rescuing a child from a trafficking ring, follows a "very familiar, old-school crime-drama template that relies on convenient plot turns".
Some critics note uneven pacing in the second half, where repetitive shootouts test patience. Additionally, the romantic arc with Disha Patani is described as "oddly restrained", lacking the tragic romantic spark of the 2007 original. Over-reliance on nostalgia without fully developing a "fresh rhythm or stronger original identity" is pointed out as a major drawback. It falls short of the original’s cult impact and emotional punch.
Action sequences, certain emotional stretches, and the overall massy commercial treatment also get positive mentions. Some reviewers note it feels intentionally old-school and doesn’t pretend to reinvent the genre. Almost every review points to Emraan Hashmi as the film's biggest asset. Critics highlight his brooding, wounded intensity as Shivam Pandit, noting he naturally anchors the emotional core and action without missing a beat.
Helmed by Nitin Kakkar, Awarapan 2 is a sequel.
