Shabana Azmi on Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 clash: 'Box office is in nobody's control'

Updated On: 07 July, 2026 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR

Shabana Azmi says she isn't worried about her films Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 clashing at the box office on August 14, calling it an exciting opportunity to play contrasting roles. She adds that box office success is beyond anyone's control

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In ‘Batwara 1947’, Shabana Azmi plays a woman who refuses to leave her ancestral haveli after the Partition, even as a new family moves in; (right) In ‘Awarapan 2’, she portrays a formidable adversary to Emraan Hashmi’s protagonist who is avenging the death of his ladylove

It’s an unusual situation for an actor. Come August 14, Shabana Azmi will have two of her films — Batwara 1947, also starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, and Awarapan 2, led by Emraan Hashmi — clashing at the box office. Does that make the senior actor apprehensive about their box office fate?

“The box office is in nobody’s control,” said Azmi, matter-of-factly, before adding that she views it as an exciting coincidence. “What’s exciting is to be given the opportunity to do diametrically different roles. I am grateful for that. I don’t remember if it has happened to me earlier. I remember there was a time when I got four out of five nominations for a prestigious award!”