National Award-winning composer Pritam has opened up about the creative process behind 'Mashooqa', a newly released track from the upcoming film 'Cocktail 2', revealing how a cross-cultural collaboration with Italian artist Mahmood and singer Raghav Chaitanya gave the song its distinctive sound. The film, starring Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna, is set for release on 19 June 2026.

How the collaboration came together

'Mashooqa' is designed as a playful, flirtatious summer-romance number, shot on location in Sicily. Pritam brought in Mahmood — who co-composed, co-wrote, and performed the Italian-language sections — to give the track an authenticity that a purely studio-constructed Italian flavour could not have delivered. Raghav Chaitanya handles the Hindi vocal portions, grounding the song in a familiar Bollywood idiom.

Pritam explained the thinking behind the pairing: 'Imagine what collaboration with the right artist can bring to the soundscape of a song. Mashooqa, which is shot in Sicily, is made more real and relatable by immensely talented Italian artist Mahmood, whose voice's texture and singing style elevated the song to another level.'

What Mahmood and Raghav Chaitanya said

For Mahmood, the project was a long-held ambition realised. 'I've always been fascinated by the world of Bollywood, the way music, cinema and emotion become one powerful language,' he said. 'Collaborating with Pritam for this film was like stepping into an imaginary world I had admired from afar for a long time. And knowing that some scenes were shot in Sicily makes it even more meaningful — I love the idea of two worlds so rich in culture and emotion meeting through music and cinema.'

Raghav Chaitanya described the experience as creatively energising: 'Mashooqa has such a fresh and infectious vibe to it. What excited me the most was how seamlessly the Italian elements blended with a quintessential Bollywood soundscape. Working with Pritam da and collaborating on a track that brings together two musical cultures was an incredible experience.' He added that audience response had been immediate and overwhelming.

The song and its visual treatment

The music video features Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon in a stylish, flirtatious setting that mirrors the track's easy, sun-drenched energy. The visual language leans into spontaneity and glamour — capturing, as the team describes it, the chaos of an unforgettable summer romance. The addictive beats and sparkling on-screen chemistry have already drawn strong early listener engagement since the song's release.

Cocktail 2 release and context

The original Cocktail (2012), also featuring music that blended international influences, was a commercial and musical success, making the sonic ambition of its sequel a talking point in Bollywood circles. 'Cocktail 2' arrives in cinemas on 19 June 2026, with 'Mashooqa' serving as its first major musical release ahead of the launch.