Awarapan 2: Emraan Hashmi shares a thrilling update on the sequel, 'vows' to bring back...!

Ever since the sequel to Awarapan was announced, cinephiles have been abuzz with anticipation. Emraan Hashmi returns as the iconic gangster Shivam, joined by Disha Patani as the leading lady. Awarapan 2 is set for a worldwide release on April 3, 2026, with shooting already underway in Bangkok, Thailand. Amid the building excitement, Emraan Hashmi shared a thrilling update on Awarapan 2.

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Emraan Hashmi on the Lost Soul of Hindi Cinema

Emraan Hashmi believes Hindi cinema lost its essence when it stopped “singing its emotions.” Known for his association with music-driven films, he feels Bollywood’s emotional core has faded.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Hashmi said, “I was watching this Dharma film the other day”, adding, “People were singing on the streets, and I thought to myself, where has this gone? Why aren’t we celebrating love this way anymore? It’s become so sombre and so understated. Earlier, there was joy, a certain abandon in how we expressed emotions. We sang them out loud - literally. And that’s what I miss the most.”

For Hashmi, music remains the lifeblood of Hindi cinema - the bridge between story and soul.

“Music is the emotional bandwidth that you have in films,” he explained.

Bollywood vs. Southern Cinema

Hashmi believes the change began when films started catering to multiplex audiences.

“I don’t know if that stopped when films began catering to multiplex audiences after 2014... we lost the core value of what our films used to bring to the table,” he remarked.

Further, he added, “They still wear their heart on their sleeve and play to the front gallery. We are not doing that anymore. We have started saying things in whispers and hush tones, and that’s become the language of our films - in the storytelling, and in the music too.”

The Algorithm Problem

Hashmi also blamed the data-driven approach for draining creativity.

“It’s all about the algorithm now. I have heard people say a melody won’t work because the data says so. But you can’t create music like that... It’s about the feeling the song leaves you with,” he said.

Reviving the Musical Magic

Determined to bring back that lost magic, Hashmi promises a soulful soundtrack in the sequel. “We’re going to get it back,” he asserted.

Hashmi said, “Awarapan is coming back, and we are going to have some really banger tracks on it.”

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A Legacy That Endures

The original Awarapan (2007), directed by Mohit Suri, starred Hashmi as the brooding gangster Shivam Pandit. Despite its box office failure, the film gained cult status over time, especially for its powerful music. It also featured Shriya Saran, Mrinalini Sharma, Ashutosh Rana, and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles.