As ‘Jannat’ turns 18, memories of the cult romantic drama are fresh among fans. the protagonist Emraan Hashmi and Sonal Chauhan, the 2008 film emerged as one of the most loved romantic thrillers of its time, garnering immense acclaim for its music, emotional story and Emraan’s charismatic performance. Directed by Kunal Deshmukh and co-starred by Mukesh Bhatt, the film was a huge hit at the box office and further cemented Emraan Hashmi’s popularity among young audiences.
Emraan Hashmi evokes wild fans during ‘Jannat’
Looking ahead to the release phase of the film, Emraan Hashmi recently shared an unforgettable incident with Bollywood Hungama from a promotional event held in Kolkata during the 2008 IPL season. The actor revealed that what was supposed to be a regular fan interaction at a mall went out of control due to the massive crowd. “I remember it was May 16, 2008, in the inaugural IPL season. We went to a mall in Kolkata for the gathering. What started as a simple interaction quickly turned into a near robbery,” recalls Emraan.As the crowd became unmanageable, the organizers had to move Emraan to a safer area inside the mall. “The situation became so intense that the owner of the mall had to step in and I was taken to a bathroom to manage the crowd so the police were called to ensure everyone’s safety,” he shared. The actor admitted that he was completely overwhelmed by the extent of the fan frenzy.“I couldn’t believe that people were shouting my name, wanting to catch a glimpse,” added Emraan. According to him, his response to ‘Jannat’ was an important turning point in his career. “‘Jannat’ definitely became a big turning point in my career,” he said.
Why did ‘Jannat’ become a cult favourite?
Released in 2008, ‘Jannat’ revolved around Arjun Dixit, a street youth whose obsession with success and cricket betting turns his life upside down. The film combined romance, ambition and emotional conflict and connected with the audience. Apart from the story, the film’s soundtrack composed by Pritam became very popular and remains iconic even today. Songs like ‘Zara Sa’, ‘Judaai’, ‘Haan Tu Hai’ and ‘Jannat Jahan’ became chartbusters and are still fondly remembered by fans of the film.
Excitement around ‘Awarapan 2’
Meanwhile, Emraan Hashmi is gearing up for another thrilling drama with ‘Awarapan 2’, which is already among the most awaited releases of 2026. The film reunites him with Vishesh Bhatt and is expected to bring back the intense romance and soulful storytelling that defined many of Emraan’s earlier hits. ‘Awarapan 2’ is slated to release on August 14, 2026.
