Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Awarapan 2 Dominates Box Office Clash With Batwara 1947
Two new movies opened in cinemas on August 14: Awarapan 2, a romantic action drama starring Emraan Hashmi, and Batwara 1947, a Partition drama starring Sunny Deol.
Awarapan 2 is the sequel to a 2007 movie called Awarapan, and fans were excited to have the story back.
Both films ran in almost the same number of theatres across India, but Awarapan 2 had many more people in the seats.
On its first day, Awarapan 2 earned about 21 crore rupees in India and about 27 crore rupees around the world.
Batwara 1947 earned about 5.75 crore rupees in India and about 8.34 crore rupees worldwide on its opening day.
The next day, both movies earned more money, with Awarapan 2 collecting more than 33 crore rupees in India alone.
Batwara 1947 grew by a bigger percentage but still stayed far behind.
Some critics liked Awarapan 2 but said its ending felt repetitive and dull, while fans on Twitter cheered both films.
Emraan Hashmi told fans that hopefully Awarapan 3 would come very soon.
Both movies were released just before India's Independence Day on August 15.
Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2, released on August 14, opened with Rs 21 crore net in India (one report cited Rs 22 crore) and Rs 27.20 crore worldwide, roughly three to four times Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 opening.
The Nitin Kakkar-directed sequel is Hashmi's biggest day-one opener, beating Baadshaho's Rs 12.60 crore haul (2017) and topping the 2007 Awarapan's Rs 7.76 crore lifetime India net in a single day.
Sunny Deol's Partition drama Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, opened with Rs 5.75 crore net in India and Rs 8.34 crore worldwide, its lowest solo-Deol opening since Bhaiaji Superhit in 2018.
On Independence Day (August 15), Awarapan 2 netted Rs 33.75 crore (up 53.4%) for a two-day India net of Rs 55.75 crore and Rs 72.90 crore worldwide, while Batwara 1947 jumped 134.8% to Rs 13.50 crore and Rs 26.41 crore worldwide.
Awarapan 2 logged 45.73% day-one occupancy (74.31% night shows) versus about 15% for Batwara 1947, drew positive-to-mixed reviews, and Emraan Hashmi hinted that Awarapan 3 could follow.
- Who
- Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2 (directed by Nitin Kakkar, produced by Vishesh Films) and Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 (directed by Rajkumar Santoshi), which also faced Vishwanath & Sons at the box office; supporting casts include Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi, Suvinder Vicky, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol and Ali Fazal.
- What
- A theatrical box office clash in which, per Sacnilk, Awarapan 2 dominated day one (Rs 21 crore net India, Rs 27.20 crore worldwide) and day two (Rs 33.75 crore net, Rs 72.90 crore worldwide), far ahead of Batwara 1947 (Rs 5.75 crore day one, Rs 13.50 crore day two).
- When
- Released on August 14, 2026; day-two figures were reported on August 15, 2026 (Independence Day).
- Where
- Cinemas across India and overseas; the two films ran nearly the same number of shows across India.
- Why
- Both were Independence Day-period releases in a packed window: Awarapan 2 revives Hashmi's 2007 cult franchise, and Batwara 1947 dramatises the 1947 Partition of India with Deol as a Muslim man who migrates to Pakistan.
Box office and trade analysis
Reviews and audience sentiment
Awarapan 2's dominant opening
Box office and trade analysis
Day-one and day-two data (Rs 27.20 crore then Rs 72.90 crore worldwide) make Awarapan 2 Hashmi's biggest opener by a wide margin and a clear winner over Batwara 1947.
Reviews and audience sentiment
Despite the bumper numbers, reviews were only positive to mixed, with SCREEN's review calling the third act 'repetitive dull,' and the 2007 Awarapan was itself a commercial flop that only later gained cult status.
Batwara 1947's slow start
Box office and trade analysis
With about 15% occupancy and the lowest solo-Deol opening since 2018, Batwara 1947 was a clear underdog, earning roughly a third of its rival's worldwide gross on day one.
Reviews and audience sentiment
Twitter users called it a 'great comeback for Sunny Deol,' and its day-two surge of 134.8% shows the Partition drama is connecting with audiences despite slow ticket sales.
Reviving the Awarapan franchise
Box office and trade analysis
The sequel's single-day earnings topped the 2007 original's lifetime India net, proving franchise nostalgia is a powerful commercial draw.
Reviews and audience sentiment
That comparison starts from a very low base because the 2007 Awarapan earned only about Rs 7.76 crore net in India over its whole run before becoming a cult favourite.
- Awarapan 2 Day 1 India net
- Rs 21 crore (one report cited Rs 22 crore)
- Awarapan 2 Day 1 worldwide gross
- Rs 27.20 crore (India gross Rs 25.20 crore, overseas Rs 2 crore)
- Awarapan 2 Day 2 India net
- Rs 33.75 crore, up 53.4% (55% occupancy across 10,496 shows)
- Awarapan 2 two-day totals
- Rs 55.75 crore net India; Rs 72.90 crore worldwide (India gross Rs 66.90 crore, overseas Rs 6 crore)
- Batwara 1947 Day 1
- Rs 5.75 crore net India; Rs 8.34 crore worldwide gross
- Batwara 1947 Day 2
- Rs 13.50 crore net India, up 134.8% (34% occupancy); Rs 26.41 crore worldwide
- Day 1 occupancy
- Awarapan 2: 45.73% overall, 74.31% night shows; Batwara 1947: about 15% overall
- Directors and certificates
- Awarapan 2: Nitin Kakkar, U/A, 2h20m; Batwara 1947: Rajkumar Santoshi, A, about 2h25m
Sources
Awarapan 2 Vs Batwara 1947 Box Office Day 2: Emraan Hashmi Film Earns Rs 33 Crore, Takes Lead Over Sunny Deol Starrer
Awarapan 2 Box Office Collection Day 1 Update: Emraan Hashmi’s biggest opener yet, earns Rs 27 cr worldwide
Awarapan 2 Box Office Collection Day 2: Emraan Hashmi Film Earns Twice As Much As Batwara 1947
Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Awarapan 2’ miles ahead of Sunny Deol’s ‘Batwara 1947’ on Day 1 - Telegraph India
‘Awarapan 2’ vs ‘Batwara 1947’: Day 2 numbers are out and Emraan Hashmi’s film has a ₹36.5 crore advantage
Awarapan 2 vs Batwara 1947 box office collection day 2: Emraan Hashmi's film hits ₹50 cr, Sunny Deol film trails behind
