Emraan Hashmi is enjoying a major theatrical success with Awarapan 2, and filmmaker Kunal Deshmukh believes the actor’s comeback has been a long time coming. The director, who shares a close professional and personal bond with Hashmi, has said that people in the actor’s inner circle always believed that a big box-office success was waiting for him.
Speaking about the performance of Awarapan 2, Kunal Deshmukh said that Hashmi had continued delivering strong performances even during a period when he did not have a major theatrical hit. According to the filmmaker, those who remained close to the actor never doubted that he would eventually return to the box-office spotlight.
Kunal Deshmukh and Emraan Hashmi Share a Long Bond
Kunal Deshmukh and Emraan Hashmi have a long history of working together. Their collaboration began with the 2008 romantic crime drama Jannat, which became an important film in Hashmi’s career.
The filmmaker later directed Hashmi in Jannat 2, Tum Mile and Raja Natwarlal. With four collaborations behind them, their professional relationship gradually developed into a close personal friendship as well.
Deshmukh has described Hashmi as one of his closest friends and said their friendship is independent of their professional work. He also revealed that their families have remained connected over the years, with the two celebrating birthdays, festivals and other occasions together.
Why Kunal Believed a Big Hit Was Coming
According to Kunal Deshmukh, Emraan Hashmi had never stopped being a strong performer. The issue was that he had not received a major box-office success for some time.
The filmmaker believes that situation was temporary. He said that everyone close to Hashmi felt that a major hit was always around the corner.
The success of Awarapan 2 has now proved that belief right. The film has changed the perception of Hashmi’s theatrical appeal and demonstrated that audiences are still willing to visit cinemas for a film led by him.
Emraan Hashmi Understood What His Fans Wanted
Kunal Deshmukh believes one of the biggest reasons behind Awarapan 2 becoming successful was Hashmi’s own understanding of his audience.
The director credited Hashmi for taking ownership of the project and believing that audiences wanted to see him in this particular avatar. According to Deshmukh, the actor understood the expectations of his core fan base and successfully translated that understanding into the film.
This becomes particularly significant because the original Awarapan did not make a major impact at the box office when it was released. Despite that, the film gradually developed a loyal audience and became an important part of Hashmi’s filmography.
Awarapan 2 Brings Back Emraan’s Intense Image
Emraan Hashmi became one of the most recognizable stars of Hindi cinema during the 2000s. His films often combined romance, crime, emotionally conflicted characters and memorable music.
Awarapan 2 brings back some elements of that established screen identity while presenting Hashmi in a more mature action-oriented avatar. Its success suggests that audiences still connect with the qualities that originally made the actor popular.
Rather than attempting to completely reinvent himself, Hashmi appears to have leaned into the kind of character and cinematic experience his core audience has wanted to see from him. Kunal Deshmukh considers this understanding of his fan base one of the key strengths behind the film’s performance.
Jannat Could Also Return
The success of Awarapan 2 has also generated fresh interest in Emraan Hashmi’s earlier franchises. Producer Vishesh Bhatt has reportedly confirmed that work is underway on the Jannat franchise, with Jannat 3 being written.
Kunal Deshmukh has remained cautious about discussing the potential project because development is still at an early stage. However, he reflected on why the original Jannat connected with audiences.
According to the filmmaker, the 2008 movie felt fresh because of its unusual hero and storytelling. He also credited the larger creative team, including Vishesh Films, composer Pritam and the heads of various departments, for contributing to the film’s success.
What Made Jannat Special?
Deshmukh believes Jannat benefited from the freedom available to its creators at the time. Since they were not working within an established formula, the team had greater freedom to experiment.
The director recalled that the film involved considerable risk-taking and did not have an existing template to follow. That freedom helped the team create a distinctive romantic crime drama around Hashmi’s character.
The success of Jannat subsequently strengthened the actor-director partnership between Kunal Deshmukh and Emraan Hashmi, leading to several more collaborations.
Kunal Wants to Work With Emraan Again
Despite their long history of working together, Kunal Deshmukh is keen to reunite with Emraan Hashmi for another project. The filmmaker has indicated that whatever they eventually collaborate on will be something special.
For now, however, Deshmukh is concentrating on his upcoming musical romance Diler. The film stars Ibrahim Ali Khan and Sreeleela and is being produced by Maddock Films. It is currently targeting an early 2027 theatrical release.
Awarapan 2 Gives Emraan a Fresh Start
The success of Awarapan 2 represents more than just another hit for Emraan Hashmi. It has provided the actor with renewed theatrical credibility and shown that his audience remains invested in seeing him in a leading role.
For Kunal Deshmukh, the outcome is especially satisfying because of their long friendship and professional association. He had continued to believe that Hashmi’s next major success was only a matter of time.
Now, with Awarapan 2 connecting strongly with audiences, that long-awaited moment has finally arrived. The film has also opened the door to renewed interest in Hashmi’s older franchises, potentially marking the beginning of an exciting new phase in his career.
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