13 August,2026 06:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Batwara 1947 vs Awarapan 2. Pics via Instagram
As the Independence Day weekend approaches, the Indian box office is gearing up for an intense clash between Emraan Hashmi's Awarapan 2 and Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947. As all eyes are on which film performs better, Emraan Hashmi's film seems to have marched ahead with its advance booking numbers.
Notably, both films are targeting audiences with very different stories and genres. Batwara 1947 marks the reunion of Sunny Deol and filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, backed by Aamir Khan, who is producing the film. The film also stars Preity Zinta, who returns to the big screen after almost a decade, along with Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, and Ali Fazal.
On the other hand, Awarapan 2 is a legacy sequel of the 2007 cult classic. The sequel marks the return of Emraan Hashmi in one of his most memorable roles. The film is supported by a strong supporting cast of Shabana Azmi, Disha Patani, and Suvinder Vicky.
Ashish Saksena, COO - Cinemas, BookMyShow said, "The Independence Day weekend has established itself as one of the most important windows for theatrical releases in India, and this year's line-up reflects the breadth of content that can draw audiences to the big screen. Films such as Awarapan 2, which taps into nostalgia and the strong recall of its characters and Batwara 1947, a period drama set against a compelling historical backdrop, alongside Tamil release Vishwanath & Sons and The End of Oak Street, which also offers audiences an IMAX experience, present distinctly different propositions for all kinds of audiences. Over the years, this weekend has emerged as a period where content-led, patriotic and high-emotion films can find a receptive audience alongside mainstream commercial cinema. This year is no different."
Given the larger scale, Awarapan 2 is enjoying a slight edge with distributors over Batwara 1947, which was passed by CBFC with zero cuts. However, both films have managed to secure enough screens across India.
The advance booking for both films opened around 48 hours before release on August 14. By Thursday noon, Awarapan 2 has raced ahead of Batwara 1947 with a comfortable lead. According to the trade website, Sacnilk, Batwara had sold around 30,000 tickets nationwide for day 1, earning Rs 81 lakh gross.
On the contrary, Awarapan 2, which holds a U/A certificate, had sold over 1 lakh tickets, minting Rs 3.25 crore. It is clearly out-earning the Sunny Deol-starrer by almost four times in advance bookings. That being said, Batwara 1947 is likely to reduce the gap with higher spot bookings on Friday, a trend that has been witnessed for Sunny Deol's films.
Meanwhile, trade analysts are favouring Awarapan 2 to win in this battle. According to most estimates, the film is expected to open at a Rs 20 crore net, while Batwara 1947 is likely to open at Rs 8-10 crore.
Nevertheless, both films are expected to have a good opening weekend, but it will also depend on the reception and reviews. If the current trends continue, Awarapan 2 could cross Rs 100 crore worldwide in its opening weekend itself.
