Emraan Hashmi is set to return to the live-performance stage after nearly two decades, with the actor scheduled to headline two Bollywood-themed events in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reports Times of India.
Hashmi will perform at The Emraan Era at Sunburn Union in Bengaluru on 29 August, followed by an appearance at Quake Arena in Hyderabad on 5 September, where he will share the stage with DJ Ganesh.
According to Mid-Day, Hashmi has reportedly charged Rs 2 crore for the two appearances.
The performances are expected to celebrate the music associated with some of Hashmi’s most popular films, bringing his chart-topping tracks to a live audience.
The Bengaluru show is expected to feature Hashmi performing songs from films that helped establish his musical identity in Bollywood, including Murder (2004), Aashiq Banaya Aapne (2005) and Jannat (2008).
The actor’s performances will revisit some of the songs that turned him into a household name, with DJ Aerreo also expected to join him at the Bengaluru event.
His Hyderabad appearance is expected to be shorter, with DJ Ganesh presenting remixes and mash-ups of Hashmi’s popular tracks.
The return marks Hashmi’s first major live dance performance in nearly 19 years.
His last major appearance of this kind was at the IIFA Awards in 2007.
Hashmi’s musical popularity has traditionally been closely associated with millennials, with soundtracks from films such as Murder, Aashiq Banaya Aapne and Jannat becoming defining hits of the era.
However, his recent projects appear to have introduced him to a younger audience.
His appearances in Aryan Khan’s The Ba**ds of Bollywood* (2025) and Awarapan 2 have reportedly helped him build a new following among Gen Z.
His return to the stage therefore comes at an interesting point in his career, combining nostalgia for his biggest musical hits with renewed attention from a younger generation.
Hashmi’s stage comeback comes as he enjoys one of the strongest commercial phases of his recent career.
Awarapan 2, the direct sequel to the 2007 cult film, has emerged as a major theatrical success. According to Sacnilk, the film collected Rs0.60 crore net in India on its 14th day, taking its domestic net collection to Rs144.25 crore.
Its India gross collection stands at Rs171.90 crore, while the film has earned Rs31.80 crore from overseas markets. Its worldwide gross collection has reached Rs 203.70 crore.
Following the success of Awarapan 2, Hashmi has several projects in the pipeline.
He will next be seen in Gunmaaster G9, directed by Aditya Datt.
The film also stars Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana and is scheduled for release on 27 November, 2026.
