"Awarapan 2" Forges New Path for Emraan Hashmi, Sidestepping "Serial Kisser" Persona for Deeper Narrative
Mumbai, India – Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi, long synonymous with his "serial kisser" image, has taken a significant departure from his established on-screen persona in his latest blockbuster, "Awarapan 2." The sequel, which sees Hashmi reprise his role as Shivam Pandit, has deliberately avoided the intimate scenes that once defined his early career, a decision writer Bilal Siddiqui now clarifies was central to maintaining the emotional integrity of the narrative.
Hashmi’s career has been heavily influenced by romantic dramas and his memorable intimate scenes. However, "Awarapan 2," directed by Nitin Kakkar and also starring Disha Patani, prioritizes Shivam Pandit’s complex emotional journey above all else. This choice has proven to be a resounding success at the box office, with the film reportedly grossing over Rs 100 crore (1 billion rupees) net in India during its opening week. Its impressive Rs 22 crore opening day also marked Hashmi’s biggest solo lead opening to date.
The absence of a kissing scene, despite Hashmi’s past, has become a significant talking point. Speaking to NDTV, writer Bilal Siddiqui revealed that the idea of including such a scene was never seriously considered. "It was a conscious decision. Yes. So Awarapan 1 also didn’t have it," Siddiqui stated, emphasizing the continuation of a narrative approach established in the original film.
Siddiqui further elaborated that the decision was deeply rooted in Shivam’s character arc. Shivam’s late lover continues to hold a profound and pivotal emotional space in his life, making the insertion of any new intimate romantic gesture feel "contrived" and out of place. "Now that people have seen the film, they would know that it would be kind of unfair to the character to kind of throw that in," Siddiqui explained. "It would just look contrived."
Rather than presenting a character who has simply moved on, "Awarapan 2" explores the enduring impact of Shivam’s past relationship. According to Siddiqui, Shivam’s connection with his deceased lover has transcended a conventional romantic bond. "Shivam as a character at some level still holds his lover who passed to that pedestal where he is not completely ever going to move on," he said. "She has transcended from just being his love. She’s become his strength and almost like a guiding force."
This profound emotional foundation dictates Shivam’s priorities in the sequel. His journey is not about finding a new romantic partner, but about confronting a larger, more significant challenge. "His priority is not necessarily moving on romantically. He’s got a larger fight to fight," Siddiqui affirmed.
The creative team behind "Awarapan 2" found no organic narrative opportunity to incorporate a kissing scene. Instead of succumbing to potential audience expectations, they allowed the story to dictate the on-screen action. "I think a kiss and all of that never came into mind at all because we didn’t find an organic way to lead to that with this character," the writer shared.
While the filmmakers were acutely aware of Emraan Hashmi’s established image, they chose not to let it overshadow the narrative. "I know what people expect of Emraan," Siddiqui acknowledged. However, for fans eager to see the actor revisit his signature romantic persona, Siddiqui playfully hinted, "I guess he’ll do it in another film." For "Awarapan 2," however, the decision was clear: bringing back the "serial kisser" image would have detracted from Shivam’s powerful emotional arc rather than enhancing it.
