Emraan Hashmi began his acting career with Footpath in 2003, but it was Murder (2004) that transformed him into a popular Bollywood star. His intense screen presence, romantic roles and chart-topping music quickly made him one of the most recognisable actors of his generation. The tag of Bollywood’s “Serial Kisser” became closely associated with him, giving him popularity but also creating an image he would spend years trying to overcome.
Films such as Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Gangster and Jannat established his commercial appeal. Jannat, in particular, showcased his ability to combine romance, ambition and emotional vulnerability. He later demonstrated greater versatility through films such as Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, The Dirty Picture, Shanghai, Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Azhar.
But Emraan’s career was never a smooth ride. A series of underperforming films affected his box-office momentum and the changing Bollywood landscape made his journey even more challenging. Yet he continued experimenting with different characters and genres.
Interestingly, one of his most memorable films, Awarapan (2007), was not a major theatrical success when released. Over the years, however, it developed a passionate cult following with audiences connecting deeply with Emraan’s character, Shivam Pandit.
Nearly two decades later, Awarapan 2 brought that character back to the big screen. The film’s success in 2026 gave Emraan one of the biggest commercial milestones of his career and proved the enduring connection between the actor, his character and his audience.
From Footpath to Awarapan 2, journey of Emraan Hashmi proves one thing: an actor’s career is not defined by one image, one failure or one phase but by the courage to keep reinventing himself!
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