Mukesh Bhatt says Awarapan 2 delay due to injury, not scared of Dhurandhar 2 or Toxic

mukesh bhatt

• Awarapan 2 delayed due to Emraan Hashmi's injury, not box office competition
• Mukesh Bhatt denies avoiding films, cites on-set accident as reason.
• Final shoot in Malaysia after Hashmi's recovery, release expected May/June

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Mukesh Bhatt has addressed speculation surrounding the release delay of “Awarapan 2”, making it clear that the sequel to the 2007 cult action-romance drama starring Emraan Hashmi is not being postponed to avoid facing heavyweight films like Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups at the box office.

Earlier rumours had suggested that the film, originally slated for an April release, was being rescheduled to steer clear of a potential clash with two of 2026’s most anticipated releases — the sequel to Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar and Yash’s Toxic. However, Mukesh Bhatt firmly refuted these claims, stating, “I’m not scared of Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic.” Instead, he explained that unforeseen on-set circumstances were the real reason for the shift.

“The release date of Awarapan 2 has been shifted to either in May or June because while shooting for the film, Emraan Hashmi met with an accident, and he had to go through a surgery. As a result, he isn't allowed to do action for 45 days. So, all the action sequences will be performed later,” Bhatt told PTI.

The sequel — directed by Nitin Kakkar and written by Bilal Siddiqui — sees Hashmi reprise his role from the original Awarapan, and has reportedly signed on Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi in key roles, though the cast list has not been officially confirmed yet. The story is expected to continue its blend of romance and edge-of-your-seat action.

With only one 20-day shoot schedule left, planned to take place in Malaysia once Hashmi recovers, the film’s makers have emphasised that the delay is purely a production decision — not a reflection of market fear or strategic avoidance of competition.

In the meantime, Dhurandhar, helmed by Aditya Dhar and featuring Ranveer Singh, has become a box office sensation, with earnings exceeding Rs 840 crore in India. Toxic, which stars Kannada superstar Yash and is directed by Geetu Mohandas, is one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2026, sparking discussions about potential high-profile clashes this summer.