Pakistani singer Mustafa Zahid, known for his soulful tracks in the 2007 film Awarapan, has spoken out about his absence from the recently released sequel Awarapan 2. The singer, who gave iconic songs like Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta to the original film, addressed his fans during a concert in Chicago and expressed his disappointment over not being part of the sequel’s music album. Mustafa Zahid blamed the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan for his exclusion from the film’s soundtrack.
- Awarapan 2 hit theatres on August 14, 2026.
- The film stars Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani in lead roles.
- Mustafa Zahid’s original songs from the first film have been recreated by other singers for the sequel.
Mustafa Zahid Opens Up About His Absence From Awarapan 2 at Chicago Concert
During a recent concert in Chicago, Mustafa Zahid addressed his fans directly about not being featured in Awarapan 2. He spoke emotionally about the two songs that defined his career and expressed his feelings about being left out of the sequel. The singer told the audience:
“This is the first song of my life that I wrote. This is the first song of my life that I composed and it happens to be the first song that I sang in my life. 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.”
The singer’s words struck a chord with his audience, as he acknowledged the love he has received from Indian listeners over the years despite not being able to work in Bollywood anymore. Mustafa Zahid rose to fame with Awarapan and went on to sing for several other Bollywood films including Blood Money, Aashiqui 2, and Ek Villain.
Why Mustafa Zahid Is Not Part of the Awarapan 2 Album
Mustafa Zahid is likely absent from the Awarapan 2 album because of the long-standing restrictions on Pakistani artists working in the Indian film industry. These restrictions have been in place for several years amid continuing cross-border tensions between the two countries.
The new version of Tera Mera Rishta has been sung by Saaj Bhatt and Subodhh Sharma, while Amaal Malik has worked on the recreated version of Toh Phir Aao. The music for Awarapan 2 has been composed by Mithoon, Jeet Gannguli, Amaal Malik, Ankit Sachdev, and Wasif Ahmad, with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri and Rashmi Virag.
Not just Mustafa Zahid, but composer Pritam, who had scored the music for the 2007 film, is also missing from the sequel. The production house made the decision to bring in new composers and singers for the second installment.
Lyricist Sayeed Quadri Reacts to Mustafa Zahid’s Absence
Veteran lyricist Sayeed Quadri, who penned both Tera Mera Rishta and Toh Phir Aao for the original film, has also commented on Mustafa Zahid’s absence from the Awarapan 2 album. 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.”
When asked about Pritam’s absence as well, Sayeed Quadri mentioned that writers usually do not have a say in such matters and that the decision was taken by the production house. He praised Mithoon and Amaal for recreating the iconic tracks.
Mustafa Zahid Launches Tera Mera Rishta 2.0 Independently
Despite not being part of the official Awarapan 2 soundtrack, Mustafa Zahid has independently released his own version of the song. He launched Tera Mera Rishta 2.0 on August 14, 2026, the same day the film hit theatres. The new version features upgraded lyrics while keeping the original feel of the track.
The music video shows Mustafa Zahid performing at an outdoor location at night, with a city skyline visible in the background. The track is being shared across platforms including YouTube, Instagram Reels, and streaming services. Rather than letting the song disappear from the franchise, Zahid chose to give his fans a way to experience the original emotions through his voice once again.
Mustafa Zahid had earlier revealed that he received over 25,000 fan messages asking if he would return for the sequel. When composer Amaal Malik, who recreated Toh Phir Aao, publicly credited Mustafa for the original on social media, the singer responded with a powerful message: “Borders are dangerous but then so is love”.
Fan Response to Mustafa Zahid’s Absence and Independent Release
Social media has been buzzing with reactions to Mustafa Zahid’s absence from Awarapan 2. Many fans have expressed their disappointment and shared their love for the original songs. Some fans have also praised Zahid for releasing his own version of Tera Mera Rishta independently.
The singer’s emotional speech at the Chicago concert has also gone viral, with many people appreciating his honest and heartfelt words. His acknowledgment of the love he has received from Indian audiences has touched many hearts.
About Awarapan 2
- Awarapan 2 is directed by Nitin Kakkar, who replaced Mohit Suri as the director for the sequel.
- The film stars Emraan Hashmi reprising his role, along with Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi.
- The original Awarapan (2007) was directed by Mohit Suri and had an underwhelming performance at the box office despite positive reviews.
- Emraan Hashmi had earlier commented on how the film “aged so well” over the years.
Toh Phir Aao and Tera Mera Rishta became the soul of the 2007 film and played a major role in helping it attain cult status. The songs introduced Indian audiences to Mustafa Zahid, whose soulful vocals became one of the film’s biggest highlights.
Related:
Awarapan 2 Box Office Performance
- Awarapan 2 was released in theatres on August 14, 2026 and has become a major box office success.
- The action thriller earned ₹34 crore net in just two days of its release.
- The film is being presented as a continuation of the popular franchise.
Also Read: Awarapan 2 Director Change: Producer Vishesh Bhatt Explains Why Mohit Suri Did Not Return for Sequel
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