‘I’m not scared of Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic’: Mukesh Bhatt addresses delay of Emraan Hashmi starrer Awarapan 2

Film producer Mukesh Bhatt has addressed reports surrounding the delayed release of Awarapan 2, clarifying that the decision has nothing to do with fear of box office competition from Dhurandhar Part 2 or Yash-starrer Toxic. According to Bhatt, the sequel’s release has been pushed due to pending shoot work following Emraan Hashmi’s injury.Speaking to PTI, Bhatt explained that the film could not stick to its planned April 13 release date because Emraan Hashmi suffered an accident during the shoot, which required surgery. “The release date of Awarapan 2 has been shifted to either 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. I’m not scared of Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic,” Bhatt said.Also See: ‘Dhurandhar’: Emraan Hashmi slams ‘crap mentality’ of Hindi cinema, says industry people 'like to run-down films'The producer added that only one shooting schedule of the film remains. Around 20 days of work are yet to be completed, which is scheduled to be filmed in Malaysia in March.Awarapan 2 is a sequel to the 2007 action-romance Awarapan, which starred Emraan Hashmi in the lead and went on to achieve cult status over the years. The clarification comes amid reports suggesting that Awarapan 2 was moved to avoid clashing with big-ticket releases. Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, earning over Rs 840 crore nett in India.Meanwhile, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, starring Kannada superstar Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas, is among the most anticipated pan-India films of 2026 and is slated for a March 19 release. While the original Awarapan was directed by Mohit Suri, the sequel is being helmed by Nitin Kakkar and written by Bilal Siddiqui. The film reportedly also stars Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi in key roles.