Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 continued its strong run at the box office on Saturday, building on the actor’s biggest opening as a lead actor.
After earning ₹22 crore net on Friday, the romantic action film performed even better on its second day, setting the stage for a strong opening weekend.
According to Sacnilk, Awarapan 2 earned around ₹10 crore net by 4pm on Saturday, taking its two-day collection to just over ₹32 crore.
The film recorded 32% occupancy during Saturday morning shows, with collections expected to rise considerably through the evening and night.
The film had started slowly on Friday morning but gained momentum throughout the day, with evening shows recording a notable 74% occupancy.
Awarapan 2 has also quickly surpassed the lifetime collections of several of Emraan Hashmi’s earlier films.
By Saturday afternoon, it had crossed Haq (₹20 crore), Raaz 2 (₹25.50 crore), Ek Thi Daayan (₹26 crore) and Jannat (₹30 crore).
The sequel also overtook the original Awarapan within just eight hours of release.
The 2007 film, which initially underperformed at the box office before developing a cult following, earned ₹7.75 crore net during its theatrical run.
The strong performance is particularly significant for Hashmi, as Awarapan 2 is selling more than 20,000 tickets per hour on BookMyShow, a remarkable pace for a film without a traditional superstar.
Directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, Awarapan 2 brings Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit.
The film also stars Shabana Azmi, Disha Patani and Suvinder Vicky.
Set against a child-trafficking backdrop, the sequel combines the nostalgia associated with the original with modern production values.
The film has received mixed-to-positive reviews, with critics particularly praising Hashmi’s performance and the film’s tone.
However, some reviewers have noted repetitive stretches and frequent action sequences.
With Saturday’s evening and night shows still to be counted, Awarapan 2 is expected to strengthen its position further over the weekend.
