Vishesh Bhatt On Awarapan 2: “My Whole Life Has Been About Story And Music”

As Awarapan 2 releases in theatres today, filmmaker Vishesh Bhatt has spoken about the creative philosophy behind the film, emphasising that storytelling and music have always remained central to his work.

Bhatt said his approach has consistently been driven by story and melody rather than the strength of an established brand. He noted that the team has always believed that a strong narrative, impactful songs and meaningful lyrics can connect with audiences and translate into a theatrical response.

According to Bhatt, music was not treated as a marketing tool while developing Awarapan 2. Instead, the songs were conceived as an extension of the characters' emotions and the film's narrative. The creative process began by identifying the emotions the story wanted to explore, which then shaped the songs, lyrics and storyline.

He also recalled that the original Awarapan emerged from a similar process, where an emotion became the starting point for a character and eventually shaped the film's journey. The sequel, arriving nearly 19 years after the 2007 film, follows the same emphasis on connecting music with the emotional arc of the story.

The Awarapan 2 soundtrack features composers including Mithoon, Amaal Mallik, Jeet Gannguli, Akhil Sachdeva and Wasif Ahmad. The album includes new tracks as well as reimagined versions of songs associated with the original film.

Bhatt also spoke about his approach to filmmaking budgets, saying he prefers investing time in developing the material rather than spending unnecessarily on scale. In his view, careful preparation can make production more efficient while ensuring that expenditure remains aligned with the story.

Awarapan 2, directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, sees Emraan Hashmi reprise his role as Shivam Pandit. The film released in theatres on August 14, 2026.