Year on year, Emraan Hashmi’s fans would express their desire to see a sequel to his action drama, Awarapan (2007). Their wish has been granted — producer Vishesh Bhatt announced Awarapan 2 in March, and has now taken it on floors in Thailand (Bees saal baad, Sep 30). mid-day has now learnt that Hashmi and Disha Patani, led by director Nitin Kakkar, have a 40-day schedule lined up in Bangkok, after which they will shoot extensively in Mumbai to wrap up the sequel by the year-end.

Bangkok, as the starting point of Awarapan 2, is understandable. The 2007 film ended with Hashmi’s character Shivam, an atheist gangster, being shot in the Thailand capital.

A source reveals, “The last moments of Awarapan showed a dream sequence of Shivam reuniting with his love, played by Shriya Saran. The second instalment begins from this point — Shivam comes back to life and meets Disha’s character, who helps him in his next mission. Last week, Nitin and producer Vishesh started the shoot in a bustling Bangkok street. Throughout this week, they will film a high-octane action scene in a local market. All the action set-pieces and songs will be completed in this leg. The producer has roped in robust security as they will film in real locations, and he doesn’t want pictures to make their way online.”

If Hashmi was a wayward gangster with a scruffy look in the original, he will be seen in a new light in Awarapan 2. The source indicates, “Here, his character has matured after the loss. He will be seen sporting a lean frame and a French beard. Disha, too, underwent intense training as she has many action sequences in the film.”

With the Thailand leg expected to be wrapped up by early November, the team will then focus on the emotional scenes. The source adds, “Two Mumbai schedules have been chalked out, the first one to be shot in a suburban studio. The makers will erect a sprawling set depicting the interiors of the characters’ homes.”

Kakkar will dedicate early 2026 to post-production before the film’s April 3 release.

Few would have seen a sequel to Awarapan (2007) coming eighteen years after its release. Producer Vishesh Bhatt threw a curveball when he marked leading man Emraan Hashmi’s birthday last week by announcing Awarapan 2. Pre-production work has begun on the sequel, which will be helmed by Nitin Kakkar of Filmistaan (2012) and Jawaani Jaaneman (2020) fame, and casting is underway. We’ve learnt that the makers plan to take the film on floors by July.

Think Awarapan sequel, and the first question that comes to one’s mind is whether Hashmi will reprise his role of gangster Shivam Malik. After all, the 2007 movie ended with Shivam dying in a gunfight and reuniting with his love, essayed by Shriya Saran, in the afterlife. But sources tell us that Hashmi’s Shivam will return in the second edition.

“The plan is to take the narrative forward because Shivam is a well-known character. While Awarapan was written by Shagufta Rafique from a story by Mahesh Bhatt, the second instalment has been written by Vishesh, Nitin and Bilal Siddiqi. Like the original, this one too will have a love story at its core and a strong dose of action,” reveals a source.

Over the years, producer Mukesh Bhatt and his filmmaker-son Vishesh have doled out many franchises—from Aashiqui to Raaz and Murder—under their banner. What made them consider taking Awarapan’s story forward after almost two decades?

Vishesh says, “Awarapan has lived on in fans’ hearts for years. We always wanted to bring Shivam back, but only if we found a story that did justice to his legacy. Now, we’re finally making its sequel. We had many superhit films to make a sequel of, but we picked Awarapan because it’s an emotional story. The first was a dramatic crime story set in a dark world; the sequel will be an emotional story [rooted in] crime. Awarapan 2 stirs and challenges the core emotions in us, [feelings that are] conflicted and dark. In an era of big-screen entertainers, these are stories that talk about one’s inner conflicts.”

While Vishesh is no stranger to direction, he has roped in Kakkar, whose Filmistaan won the National Award, to helm the movie.

Explaining his choice, he says, “I don’t attend film parties, but I go to film festivals to watch independent filmmakers’ work. When I saw Filmistaan, I was blown away. Nitin’s courage as a storyteller stayed with me.”

More often than not, the combination of Emraan Hashmi and producers Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt has been a winner at the box office, from Murder (2004) to Gangster (2006) and Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009). While the actor’s last collaboration with Vishesh Films was Raaz: Reboot in 2016, it looks like another association is in the offing. mid-day has learnt that Hashmi is in talks with Mukesh’s son and filmmaker-writer Vishesh Bhatt for a twisted musical love story.

The project will mark Vishesh’s second directorial venture after Murder 3 (2013). More importantly, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Hashmi, who hasn’t worked with his uncle Mukesh in over eight years. 

A source says, “Emraan has been visiting Vishesh’s office for over a year as they have been in discussions for a movie. Last week, he was again spotted at their Khar office. While they have shortlisted a few stories, the one that has their attention is a modern love story with a dark twist, written by Vishesh. Things will be finalized by March.”

When mid-day reached out to Mukesh, who, along with his son, has continued leading the banner after his filmmaker-brother Mahesh stepped aside in 2021, the producer hinted at a possible collaboration. He said, “We’re looking at options, but it’s too early to talk about it. Vishesh is at the helm of it. He is now taking the banner forward, but yes, I will be there [to oversee] the music.”

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his producer brother Mukesh Bhatt inherited their movie empire from their father Nanabhai Bhatt. But their triumph lies in the fact that they have personally contributed to the Bhatt school of cinema with their creativity and have made it an indigenous brand within Bollywood.

Their banner Vishesh Films, named after Mukesh's filmmaker son
Vishesh, is today a trusted name in the market. If you check even their recent records - say from 2011 to 2014, one can clearly make note that this banner has had seven notable films with six different directors. Today, they release their Khamoshiyan, a film that has enviable music and a fresh star cast. Vishesh, who now holds the baton for this movie company, says he is in a happy place. Stating that his dad and uncle are the flag-bearers of the company, he humbly admits to being the 'go-to man'.

Asked to explain, Vishesh simply says, “I'm the bridge between the new creative talent we have been engaging and the more experienced think tank that we have at home. Our endeavour is not only to engage newer actors and filmmakers, but to also ensure that we do not repeat the genres. If you notice, the bouquet of films that we have given in the last three years has had a Citylights on one hand and a Jannat 2 on the other. Clearly, we are striving to strike a balance with the different cinema we are putting out.“ Summing up their achievements, the young turk adds, “Our movies have worked at the box office and have also found a place on the television viewership rating charts. Not to forget, the melody of our music has dominated before and after the films' release.“

Like indie filmmakers, the Bhatts pride themselves on not being solely dependent on a particular actor, director or technician. The production house, which has been in the business for over 25 years, has given the Hindi film industry an array of talent. The directors include Anurag Basu, Mohit Suri, Hansal Mehta, Vishesh Bhatt, Kunal Deshmukh and Vishal Mahadkar.

The list of actors is just as impressive with Emraan Hashmi, Aditya Roy Kapur, Esha Gupta, Shraddha Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Patralekhaa and Manav Kaul.

While it has nurtured music directors like Pritam, Ankit Tiwari, Mithoon and Jeet Gannguli and singers Arijit Singh and Palak Muchhal, it has also given the industry writers like Shagufta Rafique, Sanjay Masoom and Amit Masurkar.

Summer of 2015 will see the first 3D thriller - Mr X directed by Vikram Bhatt on April 17 followed by love saga, Hamari Adhuri Kahani directed by Mohit Suri on June 12.

Later in the year will be the release of Love Games, a romantic thriller by Vikram Bhatt and Vishesh's next in 2016.