Mustafa Zahid may return for ‘Awarapan 2’ remake track

Mustafa Zahid sang for the original "Awarapan" nearly two decades ago, he may now return for the sequel.

Nearly two decades after Tera Mera Rishta became one of the biggest hits from Awarapan, original singer Mustafa Zahid may be returning for the sequel. The Pakistani vocalist appears set to reunite with the franchise’s makers.

According to a Mid-day report, the 41-year-old is reportedly in talks with producers Mukesh Bhatt and Vishesh Bhatt. The discussions center around a remake for Awarapan 2.

The development is notable given Bollywood’s long-standing stance on Pakistani artistes since the 2016 Uri attack. That boycott was reaffirmed more recently, following the 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Despite that backdrop, talks are reportedly moving forward. If the deal goes through, the song would reportedly be recorded in Dubai rather than India.

A source close to the matter told the publication that this could mark one of the rare recent instances of a Pakistani playback singer working on a mainstream Hindi film. However, the track itself will not feature in Awarapan 2 directly, as its inclusion could create certification complications for the film.

To work around that, the makers are said to be considering releasing the song exclusively through social media promotions, bypassing theatrical use entirely.

Meanwhile, the film’s own trailer dropped on August 6, marking the franchise’s return after 19 years. Emraan Hashmi reprises his role as Shivam Pandit, now portrayed as older and more emotionally scarred.

Disha Patani joins the cast as Zara, while Shabana Azmi takes on the role of antagonist Nafisa. The soundtrack brings together composers Mithoon, Jeet Gannguli and Amaal Malik, among others, with tracks like Ve Junoon and Yeh Awarapan already released.

The trailer also includes a recreated version of Tera Mera Rishta, now sung by Saaj Bhatt and Subodhh Sharma. Original lyricist Sayeed Qadri has returned to pen the updated version of the track.

Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Awarapan 2 is set for a worldwide release on August 14. The film will clash at the box office with Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947, setting up a high-profile release-date showdown.