Dhaka, Aug. 13 -- starrer Awarapan 2 appears to have gained an early advantage over Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 ahead of their box-office clash on Aug. 14.

The two films are set to release on the eve of India's Independence Day. Early booking trends show Awarapan 2 leading the race, helped by nostalgia surrounding Hashmi's popular 2007 film Awarapan and his strong fan following.

Meanwhile, Batwara 1947 is relying on Sunny Deol's established appeal among mass and family audiences.

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala told NDTV that Awarapan 2 currently has the upper hand in the opening-day battle.

"Awarapan 2 has the edge in the opening battle, thanks to strong nostalgia and Emraan Hashmi's cult following. But Batwara 1947 could score big with the ...