Cinema VinesWhen Mohit Suri’s 2007 romance‑action drama Awarapan hit Indian screens, it did not meet the box‑office expectations that its makers had hoped for. Starring Emraan Hashmi, Shriya Saran and Mrinalini Sharma, the film followed the life of gangster Shivam Pandit as he is tasked with guarding a Pakistani woman named Aaliyah. Though the story and the music—especially tracks like “Toh Phir Aao,” “Tera Mera Rishta” and “Mahiya”—later gained a devoted following, the movie initially failed to attract a wide audience.
In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Shriya Saran reflected on the disappointment she felt after the film’s lukewarm opening. She explained that the team had entered the market with high hopes, but the release “was ahead of its time.” Despite receiving nominations at award ceremonies, she was not invited to the events, a fact she described as “disheartening.” The actress noted that she had long believed the film would be celebrated for its intense narrative, only to be met with a lukewarm commercial response.
Over the years, however, audiences have continued to express their love for Awarapan. Shriya recalled fans telling her that they appreciated the story more than the songs, saying, “People loved the story. They felt it.” The enduring affection for the film’s plot and characters has helped it maintain a loyal fan base, even if it never achieved mainstream box‑office success.
Nearly two decades after the original’s release, the franchise is returning to theatres with a sequel, Awarapan 2. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, the new film reunites Emraan Hashmi with a fresh cast that includes Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi. Scheduled for an August 14 release, it will go head‑to‑head with Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947 in the same week.
The upcoming sequel offers an opportunity for the story’s legacy to reach a new generation of viewers, while also giving longtime fans a chance to revisit the world that first captivated them in 2007.
