Salman Khan's old praise for Emraan Hashmi has resurfaced online after the latter's recent success with Awarapan 2. In 2012, years before the two actors worked together, Salman had described Emraan as one of the industry's most underrated performers. The remark was made during the music launch of Salman's film Ishkq in Paris, when he spoke about Emraan's acting abilities and growing run of successful films. Salman's comments have now attracted renewed attention following Emraan's latest box-office achievement.

Salman had said that Emraan was "the most underrated actor" and deserved greater recognition. He also praised the actor for delivering successful films and said he personally liked his performances. At the time, Emraan was already known for several commercially successful films and had established a distinct identity through romantic dramas, thrillers and intense characters. Salman's comments were notable because they came from one of Bollywood's biggest stars at a time when Emraan was still seeking wider recognition for his acting beyond his established image.

The two actors eventually shared the screen for the first time in Tiger 3, released in 2023. Emraan played Aatish, the antagonist opposite Salman's Tiger, while Katrina Kaif reprised the role of Zoya. Their collaboration generated considerable interest because of the contrasting screen personas of the two actors. During promotions for the film, Emraan also spoke about his relationship with Salman, explaining that although he did not generally call him "bhai", he regarded him as a brother and friend.

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Emraan's comments about Salman reflected his preference for showing respect through actions rather than labels. He said respect was demonstrated through behaviour and that his family upbringing taught him to treat people equally. Their camaraderie became particularly visible during a Tiger 3 promotional event, where Salman and Emraan joked about the film's romantic elements involving Tiger and Zoya. The light-hearted exchange subsequently went viral on social media and added to the public interest surrounding their off-screen equation.

Fourteen years after Salman's original assessment, Emraan is enjoying renewed attention following the success of Awarapan 2. Directed by Nitin Kakkar and produced by Vishesh Bhatt under Vishesh Films, the film continues the story of the 2007 movie Awarapan. Emraan leads the sequel, with Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi also appearing in the cast. The film has reportedly crossed the Rs 100 crore mark, giving Emraan his first solo film to achieve that milestone.

The success has also brought fresh attention to Emraan's long career and the recognition he received from Salman years ago. From his early success in films such as Murder, Jannat and Awarapan to his later work in diverse roles, Emraan has built a career that combines commercial cinema with performance-oriented characters. Salman's 2012 comments are therefore being revisited as an early endorsement of an actor whose recent success has once again placed him at the centre of Bollywood conversations.

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