Shriya Saran recently spoke about the disappointment she felt when Awarapan failed at the box office in 2007. The actress revealed that she was not invited to award shows even though the film received nominations. She called the movie “ahead of its time” and shared how the experience left her feeling disheartened.
Nearly two decades after its release, Awarapan has become a cult favourite among Hindi film audiences. The Mohit Suri directorial, which starred Emraan Hashmi and Shriya Saran in lead roles, did not perform well at the box office when it first arrived in theatres. Now, with Awarapan 2 set to release on August 14, the actress looked back at the original film’s journey and the challenges she faced during that period.
Shriya Saran Recalls the Disappointment After Awarapan’s Failure
Shriya Saran said the entire team had high expectations for Awarapan before its release. The film, directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt, featured Emraan Hashmi, Mrinalini Sharma, and Shriya Saran in important roles. However, the film’s initial response left everyone surprised.
“When the film came out, we all had lots of hopes for it. But I don’t know why; I think it was ahead of its time,” Shriya Saran said during a conversation with Pinkvilla.
The actress admitted that she found it difficult to process the film’s poor performance at the ticket window. Awarapan was made on a budget and grossed less than ₹8 crore at the Indian box office. For Shriya Saran, who was still establishing herself in the Hindi film industry at that time, the failure hit hard.
Award Shows Did Not Send Invitations Despite Nominations
One of the most painful aspects of the experience for Shriya Saran was being excluded from award functions even though Awarapan had received nominations.
“It was even nominated in some award shows, and they didn’t send me an invite. It was like that,” she recalled.
Shriya Saran expressed her confusion about why the film did not receive the recognition it deserved during its initial run. She believed Awarapan was a movie that would be celebrated by audiences.
“And Awarapan is a movie which I felt would be celebrated; people would love it. So when something like that happens, you kind of feel very disheartened,” she added.
The actress said she was “very disheartened” after Awarapan and thought the film was supposed to be loved by viewers.
Why Awarapan Eventually Became a Cult Favourite
Despite its disappointing box office performance, Awarapan slowly found its audience over the years. The film developed a loyal following, and viewers continued to approach Shriya Saran to tell her how much they loved the movie.
For a long time, Shriya Saran believed that the film’s popularity was mainly because of its music and Emraan Hashmi‘s performance. The soundtrack featured popular songs like Toh Phir Aao, Tera Mera Rishta, Maula Maula, and Mahiya.
“So then, for the longest time, I thought maybe it was the songs they loved, because the songs were amazing and Emraan was amazing,” she said.
However, with time, she came to understand that audiences had connected more strongly with the emotional core of the story.
“But now, you know, I feel like people loved the story. They kind of felt it. Because it’s a very intense, intense story. So people really felt it,” Shriya Saran explained.
She pointed out that the continued love for the film even after so many years proves that it resonated with people on a deeper level.
Shriya Saran Reflects on Working With Emraan Hashmi and Mohit Suri
Shriya Saran also spoke about her experience of working with Emraan Hashmi and director Mohit Suri on Awarapan. She revealed that the film was very important for Emraan Hashmi.
“Emraan ke liye wo film bahut important thi. He always loved this film, this story,” she shared.
The actress described Mohit Suri as an “intense” filmmaker to work with. She praised his ability to bring out emotionally honest performances from his actors.
“When he narrates the scenes, explains them, and the way he directs, it’s very intense. He really brings your soul out. And he’s very talented,” Shriya Saran said.
She recalled that Mohit Suri would go beyond simply explaining a scene or its dialogue. He would share the meaning behind why he wrote the scene and what he wanted the actors to feel at that moment.
Related:
Awarapan 2 Set to Release in Theatres
Nearly two decades after the original, Awarapan 2 is heading to theatres on August 14. The sequel is directed by Nitin Kakkar and features Emraan Hashmi reprising his role as Shivam Pandit.
Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi join the franchise as new additions to the cast. Awarapan 2 will clash with Sunny Deol‘s Batwara 1947 at the box office.
The original Awarapan followed the story of Shivam Pandit, a troubled gangster working for a crime boss in Hong Kong. His life changes when he is tasked with watching over a Pakistani woman named Aaliyah, played by Shriya Saran. The assignment leads him on a difficult emotional journey.
Despite its initial failure, Awarapan remains a memorable love story that gave Bollywood one of its most intense romantic dramas. The film’s music and Emraan Hashmi‘s performance contributed significantly to its lasting appeal.
Also Read: Awarapan 2 Dominates Batwara 1947 at Box Office, Emraan Hashmi Set for Career-Best Opening
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