The action-drama film Awarapan 2, which hit theaters across India on 14 August 2026, is currently achieving remarkable commercial success at the box office. In this highly anticipated sequel, actor Emraan Hashmi returns to the big screen to reprise his celebrated role as Shivam Pandit. Starring alongside him is actress Disha Patani, whose presence in the film generated immense curiosity and excitement among fans prior to its theatrical release. Before the film hit the big screen, a significant portion of the audience assumed that they would witness intense romantic sequences and intimate moments between Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani. However, moviegoers were left surprised after watching the film, as it features no kissing scenes at all. For an actor who established his reputation as Bollywood's quintessential "serial kisser" early in his career, the complete absence of romantic kissing scenes became a major talking point among fans and film enthusiasts.
Story Demands and Bilal Siddiqui's Creative Choice
Many viewers wondered why a high-profile commercial film would choose to completely omit romantic kissing scenes while defying the established screen persona of its lead star. Addressing these questions, screenwriter Bilal Siddiqui clarified the rationale behind this narrative decision. During a recent interaction, Bilal Siddiqui explained that the choice to leave out romantic or kissing scenes was not a last-minute modification made in the editing room. He revealed that right from the script writing stage, the creative team had decided not to force any explicit romantic scenes into the storyline.
The writer also pointed out that the original 2007 cult film Awarapan similarly contained no such romantic scenes. According to Bilal Siddiqui, inserting a fresh romantic angle would have been entirely incompatible with the emotional journey of Shivam Pandit in Awarapan 2. He explained that within the narrative, Shivam continues to live in the persistent memory of his deceased lover whom he lost years ago. Under these emotional circumstances, shoehorning a romantic scene merely to satisfy audience expectations surrounding Emraan Hashmi's traditional screen persona would have rendered the narrative artificial and forced. Bilal Siddiqui emphasized that this was a deliberate and calculated creative choice, as failing to respect the character's emotional boundaries would have ruined the authenticity of his arc.
Shivam Pandit's Unfinished Love Story and Emotional Journey
A closer look at the narrative structure reveals that Shivam Pandit in Awarapan 2 is far more than a character merely reminiscing about his past. In the eyes of screenwriter Bilal Siddiqui, the memory of Shivam's late partner occupies a sacred and irreplaceable space in his life. As time has passed, those memories have evolved beyond simple nostalgia; they serve as his primary source of inner strength, resilience, and moral guidance amidst his chaotic reality.
Consequently, at this critical junction in the story, Shivam's primary objective is not to search for a new romantic companion, but rather to confront the formidable external challenges and personal battles that lie ahead. The writer acknowledged that he was fully aware of audience expectations whenever Emraan Hashmi's name appears on a movie poster, as fans naturally anticipate classic romantic tropes. However, he maintained that compromising the core integrity of a serious, grief-driven narrative simply to cater to public perceptions of an actor's brand would have been a narrative misstep.
Moving Beyond the 'Serial Kisser' Tag
It is worth noting that Emraan Hashmi carved out a distinct niche for himself in Hindi cinema during the 2000s. Through starring roles in major hit films such as Murder, Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, and Gangster, his bold and romantic portrayals earned him the widely recognized "serial kisser" moniker in Bollywood. For years, these romantic tropes served as a signature element of his theatrical appeal. However, in recent years, Emraan Hashmi has consciously pivoted his career choices, opting for diverse, complex, and story-oriented roles that showcase his versatility as an actor.
His performance as Shivam in Awarapan 2 clearly highlights this ongoing professional evolution. Rather than relying on conventional romance or bold imagery, the film centers its thematic focus on deep emotional trauma, unfulfilled love, intense hardship, and a relentless quest for revenge. Through his performance, Emraan Hashmi has demonstrated that he possesses the star power and dramatic capability to pull massive crowds to the box office without depending on his legacy image.
Record-Breaking Box Office Performance Across Theatres
Despite breaking away from expected romantic tropes and featuring no kissing scenes, Awarapan 2 has suffered no adverse impact on its commercial performance. Box office figures clearly demonstrate that audiences have embraced the film's gritty narrative and strong character work. On its opening day, Awarapan 2 delivered the biggest solo lead opening of Emraan Hashmi's career, collecting approximately 21.50 crore rupees net in India.
Building on this explosive start, the movie maintained strong momentum over subsequent days, swiftly entering the prestigious 100 crore club. By its sixth day of theatrical release, Awarapan 2 had accumulated a total net collection of 107.50 crore rupees at the Indian box office. On a global scale, the film's worldwide gross collection surpassed 152 crore rupees. These impressive numbers reaffirm that compelling storytelling and strong character arcs do not require forced formulas to achieve box office glory.
