Emraan Hashmi‘s career has long been associated with romantic dramas and intimate scenes, earning him the much-discussed “serial kisser” tag during the early phase of his career. However, his latest release ‘Awarapan 2’ deliberately avoids that familiar element. The decision is particularly interesting because the sequel brings Hashmi back as Shivam Pandit, a character whose emotional history remains central to the story. Writer Bilal Siddiqui has now explained why the makers felt that introducing a kissing scene would not fit naturally into the narrative.
Shivam Pandit’s emotional journey came first
‘Awarapan 2’, directed by Nitin Kakkar and featuring Disha Patani alongside Emraan Hashmi, has made a strong impact at the box office. The film reportedly crossed the Rs 100 crore India net mark during its first week, while its Rs 22 crore opening day also marked Hashmi’s biggest opening for a solo lead.Yet the absence of a kissing scene has become one of the talking points surrounding the sequel. According to Siddiqui, there was never any serious discussion about adding one simply because audiences associate Emraan Hashmi with such scenes.Speaking to NDTV, he shared, “It was a conscious decision. Yes. So Awarapan 1 also didn’t have it,” Siddiqui said.The writer also explained that the decision was closely tied to what Shivam’s character has gone through. His late lover continues to occupy an important emotional space in his life, making the introduction of another intimate moment difficult to justify within the story.“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 Shivam as someone who has simply moved on from his past, the sequel explores how that relationship continues to influence him.
His late lover remains his guiding force
According to Siddiqui, Shivam’s connection with his late lover has transformed into something deeper than a conventional romantic attachment. “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.The writer added, “She has transcended from just being his love. She’s become his strength and almost like a guiding force.” That emotional foundation also determines Shivam’s priorities in the sequel. His journey is not primarily about finding another romantic relationship, but about confronting the larger challenge placed before him. “His priority is not necessarily moving on romantically. He’s got a larger fight to fight,” Siddiqui said.
No room for a forced kissing scene for Emraan Hashmi
Siddiqui revealed that the makers never found a genuine narrative opportunity for a kiss between the characters. Rather than inserting one to meet audience expectations, they chose to let the story dictate what belonged on screen. “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 said.The team was, of course, conscious of Hashmi’s established image and what viewers might expect from him. “I know what people expect of Emraan,” Siddiqui said.However, fans waiting to see the actor revisit his trademark romantic persona may not have to wait forever. The writer added with a hint of humour, “I guess he’ll do it in another film.”For ‘Awarapan 2’, though, the filmmakers felt that bringing back the “serial kisser” image would have worked against Shivam’s emotional arc rather than adding anything meaningful to it.
