Pakistani singer Mustafa Zahid, the voice behind the iconic songs Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta from the 2007 film Awarapan, has finally broken his silence after the release of Awarapan 2. The singer, who was not part of the sequel’s music album due to geopolitical tensions, recently watched the film in a theatre and shared an emotional experience that has touched millions of fans across the border.
Mustafa Zahid took to Instagram on Thursday to post a picture of himself standing next to the Awarapan 2 poster at a theatre. He also shared a video that showed him smiling and looking overwhelmed as the film’s opening credits rolled. The opening sequence featured his voice along with scenes of Emraan Hashmi and Shriya Saran from the original film. The moment was clearly special for the singer, who has carried these songs with him for nearly two decades.
Mustafa Zahid Shares Emotional Experience of Watching Awarapan 2
In a heartfelt caption accompanying his post, Mustafa Zahid opened up about what it meant to see his legacy being honoured on the big screen. He wrote that nearly two decades ago, Awarapan gave him a place in millions of hearts. Sitting in a theatre watching Awarapan 2, he said time stood still for him. In that opening minute, 19 years of his life flashed before his eyes.
“For 19 years, I carried these songs with me to every stage, every city and every concert. When I was approached about my songs for the sequel, I never had an issue with making space for new voices. I’ve always believed in giving back and making way for what comes next. All I ever asked for was dignity and due credit for what I had contributed to this legacy.”
The singer expressed that he now feels he has achieved what he always wanted. He wrote that the film began with his voice, followed by loud cheers from the crowd. In that particular moment, he received what he always wanted: dignity and an insane amount of love from all of his fans.
Mustafa Zahid ended his post by congratulating the team of Awarapan 2, including Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, Vishesh Bhatt and everyone at Vishesh Films. He also hinted at a possible collaboration for a future instalment, writing, “Maybe years from now, we’ll meet again for 3.0 … You’re crying, I’m not.”
Amaal Mallik’s Tribute to Mustafa Zahid
The emotional moment did not come out of nowhere. In June 2026, composer-singer Amaal Mallik, who composed the music for Awarapan 2, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts on recreating Toh Phir Aao as the title track for the sequel. He called it his “career best” song.
In a follow-up post, Amaal Mallik gave a shoutout to Mustafa Zahid, acknowledging his contribution to the original soundtrack. He wrote:
“Also a big hug to the man we all must never forget, the voice of the original #MustafaZahid and his contribution to the 2007 soundtrack – My homie, my brother from another mother & a dangerous border @Mustafology. We could’ve never been doing this if you hadn’t done the magic in the original my bro. Thank you for the stupendous melodies, the impeccable vocals and that emptiness in your rendition still haunts me and heals me.”
Mustafa Zahid responded to Amaal’s tweet with equal warmth, writing, “Lots of love Amaal, remember borders are dangerous but then so is love. Take Awarapan legacy to another level, the stage is all yours Mere Bhai.”
Why Mustafa Zahid Was Not Part of Awarapan 2 Album
Despite his deep connection to the Awarapan franchise, Mustafa Zahid was not included in the music album of Awarapan 2. The new versions of Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta were recreated by Amaal Mallik and sung by other artists. Saaj Bhatt and Subodhh Sharma lent their voices to the new version of Tera Mera Rishta.
The likely reason for his absence is the long-standing restrictions on Pakistani artists working in Bollywood. Veteran lyricist Sayeed Quadri, who penned both Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta, addressed the issue in an interview with News18. He said, “Bahot saari cheeze hoti hai jo haalat and waqt ko dekh ke karni padhti hai. The most important thing is that nation should always come first. Desh sarvapari hai.”
Sayeed Quadri also commented on the absence of composer Pritam, who had scored the music for the 2007 original. He said that writers usually do not have a say in such matters and that the call was taken by the production house.
Mustafa Zahid’s Concert in Chicago
Last week, Mustafa Zahid performed Awarapan songs at a concert in Chicago. During the performance, he addressed the audience and spoke about not being part of the sequel’s album. He said, “It is unfortunate that sometimes art has to suffer because of all the politics around the world. So, unfortunately, I am not part of the album, but the amount of love and respect that I have always received from the Indians is absolutely amazing. Thank you so much guys.”
Fan Reactions and Overwhelming Support
Mustafa Zahid has received an outpouring of love from fans on both sides of the border. Earlier, after the teaser of Awarapan 2 was released on June 29, many fans took to social media wondering whether Mustafa Zahid would return for the sequel. The singer revealed that he received over 25,000 fan messages asking if he would be part of Awarapan 2.
Responding to the love from fans at that time, Mustafa shared an emotional note on social media, saying, “Words can’t describe how overwhelmed I am from all your love and messages since yesterday. If there was one time I needed that in my life it was this time and I’ll forever be thankful to all you.”
Awarapan 2 Box Office Performance
Awarapan 2 was released in theatres on August 14, 2026. The film stars Emraan Hashmi reprising his role as Shivam, along with Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi in pivotal roles. Directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt, the film has performed exceptionally well at the box office.
Since its release, Awarapan 2 has grossed over ₹153 crore worldwide. The film faced a box office clash with Sunny Deol-starrer Batwara 1947 on the same release date. Despite the competition, Awarapan 2 has emerged as a major success, becoming one of Emraan Hashmi’s biggest hits.
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The Legacy of Awarapan and Mustafa Zahid
When Awarapan was released in 2007, it quickly became a cult success. The film’s music, particularly Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta, became synonymous with the film and introduced Indian audiences to Mustafa Zahid’s soulful vocals. His voice became one of the film’s biggest highlights and paved the way for him to sing in other Bollywood films such as Blood Money, Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain.
The original Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri, had an underwhelming performance at the box office despite opening to positive reviews. However, over the years, the film aged well and gained a cult following. Emraan Hashmi himself commented on this, saying, “It wasn’t so successful in 2007 but today, it’s my most successful film.”
Now, with the success of Awarapan 2, Mustafa Zahid’s legacy continues to live on. His voice opened the sequel, and his contribution to the franchise has been acknowledged by the makers and fans alike. The singer, who once asked only for dignity and due credit, has now received exactly that.
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