Emraan Hashmi, once a box-office favourite known for his intense performances and chartbuster soundtracks, is bracing for a critical comeback with Awarapan 2. The film, releasing August 14, will clash with Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947. Interestingly, the sequel follows a predecessor that originally flopped but found a massive cult following over the years.
Hashmi hasn’t delivered a solo hit since 2012’s Raaz 3. In recent times, he has experimented with negative-shaded characters in Tiger 3, Haq, and made his Telugu debut as a villain in They Call Him OG. One character in The Ba***ds of Bollywood even declared, ‘Akka Bollywood ek taraf aur Emraan Hashmi ek taraf.’
The actor’s clout now leans heavily on nostalgia. A ranking of his 10 best films, from decent to awesome, includes Jannat, a gritty tale of cricket betting; Murder 2, a remake of the Korean film The Chaser; and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, where Hashmi played the ruthless Shoaib opposite Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut. Awarapan, which inspired the upcoming sequel, is considered one of his finest performances.
Shanghai, a political drama adapted from the French classic Z, tops the list. The film allowed Hashmi to break free from his conventional roles, portraying a character with an uncouth appearance and a tooth-gapped smile. Its sharp satire of a broken system remains unnervingly relevant today. Other entries include The Dirty Picture, Gangster, Raaz 3, and Ek Thi Daayan.
