...
...
Next Story

Emraan Hashmi's film Awarapan 2 is ‘not a cash grab’, says producer Vishesh Bhatt: ‘No distributor wanted to buy it’

Awarapan 2 producer Vishesh Bhatt revealed initial lack of distributor interest, stating the film is not a cash grab.

Published on: Aug 16, 2026, 12:07:20 IST
Advertisement

Actor Emraan Hashmi's much-awaited film Awarapan 2 finally released in theatres on August 14. Despite clashing with Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947, the film crossed the 50 crore mark in just two days, surpassing the lifetime collections of some of Emraan's previous successful films, including Jannat and Murder. However, producer Vishesh Bhatt has revealed that no distributor initially showed interest in buying the film.

Vishesh Bhatt reveals no distributor wanted to buy Awarapan 2

Emraan Hashmi in a still from Awarapan 2.
Emraan Hashmi in a still from Awarapan 2.

In an interview with Zoom before the film's release, Vishesh said, “If you want to watch films like Awarapan, you will have to support it in cinemas. Otherwise, how would I know that you are interested in that? If I know, I will put in my hard-earned money to cash-grab it. Let me tell you, Awarapan 2 is not a cash grab film.”

He further explained, “Nothing is there; there is part one that will take you to part two. If it were a cash grab, distributors would have shown interest in it, and I would have been sitting on a table profit today. Nobody in the market came to buy the film. We put our own money into it. Yes, the market did wake up when the film was ready. If audiences show love for films like these, Awarapan kind of films can be made.”

About Awarapan 2

Deep Dive

Why did no distributors initially want to buy Awarapan 2?

Producer Vishesh Bhatt stated that no distributors showed interest in Awarapan 2 because it wasn't perceived as a cash grab, indicating a lack of market confidence in the film prior to its release.

What is the significance of Awarapan 2's box office performance compared to the first film?

Awarapan 2 surpassed the lifetime box office collection of its predecessor, Awarapan, in less than a day, indicating a stronger audience interest and better reception despite the first film's initial underperformance.

How does Emraan Hashmi's performance in Awarapan 2 compare to his previous roles?

Emraan Hashmi's performance in Awarapan 2 has received praise from critics, with many highlighting it as one of his standout roles, especially in terms of emotional depth and action sequences.
Powered ByAsk HT

Awarapan 2 continues Shivam's story after he survives the six bullets fired at him in the first film. He rescues a baby, Aliyah, and grows attached to her, only to learn from Interpol that she has been pushed into a child trafficking racket. Shivam then infiltrates Zorawar's gang to save her, forming the crux of the story.

The film is having a strong run at the box office. On its opening day, it surpassed the lifetime business of Awarapan, which collected 7.75 crore net. By Saturday, it had also surpassed the final collections of several of Emraan's successful films, including Haq ( 20 crore), Raaz 2 ( 25.50 crore), Ek Thi Daayan ( 26 crore) and Jannat ( 30 crore). The film has so far collected 55 crore at the domestic box office and 72.90 crore worldwide.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Riya Sharma

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe