Awarapan 2 brings Emraan Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit in a new crime story set in Bangkok. Here’s our review of the sequel, its cast, story, music, and performances.
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| Image credit - IMDB |
Awarapan 2 Review: Emraan Hashmi is back in one of the most loved characters (Shivam) in Awarapan 2, around two decades after the first movie. The sequel p has the original’s emotional world while giving Shivam a new mission in Bangkok. The film combines crime, action, and emotional drama with many callbacks to the original movie.
Emraan Khan has emerged as a major highlight for our Awarapan 2 Movie Review. He once again plays Shivam as a wounded man with a heavy past. Although the sequel has enough new material, its connection with the original is its strongest perk.
Awarapan 2 Review: Overview
The sequel has been made for the fans of its original. Viewers will find many similarities with Shivam’s relationship with Aliyah and its emotional impact.
The story moves from Jaipur to Thailand, where he finds himself involved with a criminal gang in Bangkok. He is asked to infiltrate a dangerous group and find a young girl named Aliyah, as people involved in human trafficking have kidnapped her.
The Awarapan movie 2 also introduces Zara (Disha Patani) later in the storyline. She belongs to a criminal family and wants to escape that dangerous world. Although her relationship with Shivam gives an emotional layer to the story, it doesn’t have the same impact as Shivam and Aaliyah’s bond.
Awarapan 2 Review: Story
The Awarapan 2 movie follows Shivam Pandit as he takes on a mission years after the events of the original film. He is still dealing with the pain of losing Aliyah, as her memory is currently shaping his life.
This time, Shivam travels to Thailand after becoming involved in the search for a young orphan girl named Aaliyah. A gangster involved in human trafficking later kidnaps her.
The Awarapan movie legacy is strongly connected to Shivam’s emotional journey because the sequel uses the history throughout the narrative. Shriya Saran’s Aaliyah’s flashbacks appear at key moments. Although her character is not physically present, her absence continuously affects Shivam’s present.
He is assigned to infiltrate a criminal group and find a kidnapped girl. He then becomes the new head of security inside the gang, where he faces several dangerous characters. His mission also puts him closer to Zara, as she wants to take her brother Sikandar away from the criminal world.
Zorawar (Puran Gabbi) rules the first half as a violent and unpredictable gang leader. Shabana Azmi is also there as the queen of Bangkok, Nafisa Nawaz.
Awarapan 2 Review: Technicality
Awarapan 2’s technical presentation is also satisfactory. Bangkok gives the sequel a wider international environment and several stylish sequences.
The cinematography works extremely well during dawns, eclipses, and car chases. The first half uses Bangkok as an important part of the story instead of putting it as a scenic backdrop. Although the car chases in the 1st half stand out, some scenes lose their impact.
The editing moves the film at a steady pace for most of its runtime. The production design also suits the story’s scale. Nitin Kakkar’s direction keeps the focus on Shivam and the emotional side of the crime drama.
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What Worked In Awarapan 2
Emraan Hashmi is the strongest aspect of Awarapan movie 2. Although he indeed looks older than in the original, Shivam Pandit’s physical identity has not changed dramatically. Fans reconnect with him due to a similar look and an injured personality.
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| Image Credit - IMDB |
The movie’s music is also the biggest benefit. It also brings back the emotional connection with the original film. “Tera Mera Rishta” and “Toh Phir Aao” carry a strong nostalgia for fans. The film also revisits the other musical memories from the Bhatt camp. Although Piya got a club treatment, Lado gets a more sentimental version.
Shivam and younger Aliyaah’s bond also adds a positive note to the overall narrative. It gives him a sense of purpose for him and brings him back to his life.
Besides Emraan Hashmi, several performances also impress throughout its runtime. Puran Gabbi also gives an impactful villain as Zorawar. Shabana Azmi also has a strong screen presence as Nafisa. Her character, however, may have been used more effectively in some parts of the movie.
What Could Have Improved In Awarapan 2
The film fails to maintain its momentum throughout. Its first part has stylish sequences, a fresh setting, and an interesting criminal setup. The screenplay, however, starts losing its grip as the story moves forward.
The third act is especially stretched as Awarapan 2 spends a long time reaching its climax. This is why the impact of the stronger scenes fails to impress.
Shivam and Zara’s romantic connection also struggles to leave a mark. Disha Patani indeed gets some softer moments with Emraan Hashmi. But the chemistry fails to match the emotional force from the first film.
Shabana Azmi’s Nafisa also stays underused, as her introduction creates strong expectations. But the film doesn’t use her full ability.
The film also depends heavily on nostalgia. Flashbacks, music, and references could benefit the original’s fans. They can sometimes, however, make the storyline feel less unique.
Awarapan 2 Review: Verdict
Nostalgia, music, and Emraan Hashmi as Shivam Pandit are the biggest strengths of Awarapan 2. The sequel knows the reasons behind the popularity of his character in 2007 and develops the story behind them.
Awarapan 2 indeed has a decent crime setup. International backdrop, strong performance, and enjoyable moments. An uneven second half and a prolonged third act hold it from becoming the best movie of 2026.
The return of Shivam Pandit might become a big deal for longtime fans. New viewers can also watch it without rewatching the first film, as the sequel has several flashbacks to help them understand the story.
Although the sequel might not completely recreate the magic of the original, it indeed offers enough action, emotion, and nostalgia to make Shivam’s return worth watching.
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Published: 14 August 2026 at 6:19 PM IST
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