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The ‘Serial kisser’ strikes again —This time without a kiss
Published : Thursday, 20 August, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Hasibul Islam
Collected Photo
Once branded Bollywood’s “serial kisser” for his on-screen romantic scenes, Emraan Hashmi has now delivered the biggest solo box-office success of his career without relying on a single kissing scene.
Nearly 19 years after the release of 'Awarapan' in 2007, its sequel 'Awarapan -2' has stormed the box office, becoming Hashmi’s first film as a solo lead to cross the ₹100 crore mark in India. The film has reportedly earned ₹111.63 crore domestically in its first week, while its worldwide collection has crossed ₹150 crore.
According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, 'Awarapan 2' opened with ₹23.40 crore on its first day and maintained the same figure on day two. Collections jumped to ₹34.09 crore on day three, followed by ₹26.82 crore on Sunday, ₹10.06 crore on Monday, ₹10.26 crore on Tuesday and ₹7 crore on Wednesday.
The achievement marks a major milestone for Hashmi, who had previously enjoyed big commercial success in films featuring other major stars. His 2023 appearance in 'Tiger 3' alongside Salman Khan was a major box-office success, but the film also benefited from Salman’s massive star power. With 'Awarapan 2', Hashmi has carried the film largely on his own shoulders and emerged as its central box-office draw.
The success also signals a striking comeback for the actor, who has appeared in films and streaming projects in recent years but has not enjoyed the same level of theatrical attention he commanded during his peak. 'Awarapan 2' appears to have answered the question of whether audiences had moved on from Hashmi with a resounding box-office response.
The film has also moved ahead of Sunny Deol’s 'Biotara 1947' in the domestic box-office race. While 'Awarapan 2' crossed the ₹100 crore milestone within days, Deol’s film remains some distance away from the mark.
Hashmi’s wife Parveen also celebrated his achievement on social media, describing his journey as one that took 23 years of patience, perseverance, faith and dedication. She recalled the highs and lows of his career, noting that some Fridays brought joy while others brought disappointment, but he continued to push forward.
After 23 years in the industry, 'Awarapan 2' has given Hashmi more than just a box-office milestone. It has handed the actor a headline-making comeback and proved that the man once famous for his kissing scenes can still create serious box-office magic without them.
-HIS
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
