I can never forget the evening of September 1, 2017. I was watching the evening show of your film Baadshaho at Mumbai’s famous Gaiety-Galaxy cinema. Just as the intermission began, a sudden wave of screams and whistles erupted — far louder than the usual interval chatter. Me and my friend climbed down from the balcony to the stalls to find out what was happening. And that’s when we saw you, standing just 10 feet away! You were mobbed by fans and how. Better sense prevailed and we stepped aside, lest we get trampled by the over-enthusiastic moviegoers wanting to catch your glimpse.
An open letter to Emraan Hashmi after watching The Ba***ds Of Bollywood: Be the Rebel, be the Grey Man, be the Serial Kisser once more; your MILLIONS of fans are desperate for their messiah’s comeback
This was not the first time I saw a celeb interacting with fans in Gaiety-Galaxy. But this experience was unique. I witnessed extreme craze and devotion in the eyes of these patrons akin to what a devotee might feel on suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with the God they’ve worshipped all their life. This might seem an exaggeration, but for millions of men, especially those who frequent mass-dominated cinemas like Gaiety, you are a God-like figure to them. They see themselves in you. Or they aspire to be like you – the rebel, the fearless rule-breaker, the charming grey man, mischievous yet magnetic, and of course, someone who always knows how to win over the women.
And I am sure they could also identify with Raghav Juyal’s character in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. The way Parvaiz (Juyal) freezes when he sees you, followed by his classic rendition of ‘Kaho Na Kaho’ from Murder (including the Arabic verse) has already achieved cult status on the internet! The reason for it is not just thanks to Raghav’s terrific acting and stellar work by the writing team and director Aryan Khan. But it’s also because you could definitely have that effect on your die-hard fans.
However, you became a messiah of the masses thanks to the films you did in the first phase of your career. Murder made you a household name and then films like Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Kalyug, Gangster, Murder 2, Raaz series, Jannat, Aksar, Good Boy Bad Boy, The Train, Jawani Diwani, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai etc. cemented your position. There was no other actor playing roles in this zone and that further helped you too. What also came to your aid big time was chartbuster music. You as anti-hero + super hit music was a deadly combo.
A few of your films didn’t put up good numbers, but the masses were definitely watching it. I remember my Gangster experience in Gaiety. Until the pre-climax, you were the good guy and as soon as you turned negative, the audience got excited. They could finally see you in an avatar they prefer! Good Boy Bad Boy had fallen in Week 2 but on the second Sunday in Galaxy, it ran house full. Many kids, who secretly saw your earlier films in their homes, came out in full force as it was a rare Emraan film then, with a U/A rating! Many actors are hailed as ‘darling of the masses,’ but this is a title that you deserve fully.
However, it was saddening that after Raaz 3, the choice of your films, though well-intended, hasn’t paid dividends. You attempted to move away from your image, which I am sure was a fine idea and in between, you even went back to your OG avatar in films like Raja Natwarlal, Raaz: Reboot, The Body, Mumbai Saga etc. But none of them were memorable and even the songs failed to click. If I ask any Emraan fan today, they’ll mention a pre-Raaz 3 film or song as their most favourite.
Thankfully, the impact you generated with your initial films hasn’t gone away. This has been proved by the outstanding response to the aforementioned scene in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. When Parvaiz said “Akkha Bollywood ek taraf aur Emraan Hashmi ek taraf”, not a single soul raised eyebrows or questioned the claim. That’s because Parvaiz was so right.
Hence, through this open letter, I want to request you – please return to your original anti-hero avatar, please lip-sync to those unforgettable chartbusters, deliver the whistle-worthy heroic dialogues, and yes, bring back the serial kissing that became your signature! If the film is well-made and the trailer and marketing hit the bullseye, the audience will embrace it with open arms. There’s an entire generation that has only heard of the “Emraan Hashmi craze” but never witnessed it firsthand, as they were not born or were too young 15-20 years ago. They know your legacy, which is why they celebrated your scene in The Ba**ds Of Bollywood. Give them the chance to experience that magic on the big screen for the first time ever.
Thankfully, you seem to be heading in that direction. Awarapan 2 is among the most awaited films of 2026, and Aditya Datt’s Gunmaaster G9 looks like a winner too. But please don’t stop there. Let there be many more films, more often, each one a reminder of why Emraan Hashmi became a phenomenon in the first place. Let there be a grand comeback, not just of a star, but of an entire era…the era of THE Emraan Hashmi.
Yours Truly,
Fenil Seta
Also Read: BREAKING: Serial Kisser Emraan Hashmi plays intimacy coach in Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds Of Bollywood
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