Mustafa Zahid Slams Politics Behind Awarapan 2 Omission; Skips Album Due to Industry Restrictions

Pakistani singer Mustafa Zahid, who gave the 2007 Bollywood hit Awarapan its unforgettable soundtrack with the tracks “Toh Phir Aao” and “Tera Mera Rishta,” has publicly expressed his frustration after being left out of the sequel’s music. The original songs helped the film achieve cult status and launched Zahid’s career in India, leading to later collaborations on titles such as Blood Money, Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain.

During a recent concert in Chicago, Zahid addressed the audience about his absence from the new album. He said, “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 remarks highlight the political tensions that continue to affect Pakistani artists working in the Indian film industry.

In place of Zahid’s vocals, the new versions of “Tera Mera Rishta” have been performed by Saaj Bhatt and Subodhh Sharma. The sequel also saw a change in its music team: while Pritam, the original composer, was absent, Amaal and Mithoon took over the project. Veteran lyricist Sayeed Quadri commented on the situation, noting that “there are a lot of things that one has to do seeing the current situation and time” and emphasizing that “the nation should always come first.” He added that writers typically have no say in such decisions and that the production house made the call.

The exclusion of both Zahid and Pritam from Awarapan 2 underscores the lingering restrictions on Pakistani talent in Bollywood. Despite the artist’s popularity and the positive reception of his earlier work, political barriers have prevented him from contributing to the sequel’s soundtrack. The situation remains a point of contention for fans and industry observers alike.