Vishal Malhotra on Jannat friendship with Emraan Hashmi that outlasted the film
Synopsis
Vishal Malhotra's look back at Jannat is more than nostalgia — it is a rare account of a Bollywood friendship that survived the wrap. While the 2008 film gave him his second chapter, it quietly handed him something the script never promised: a genuine off-screen bond with Emraan Hashmi that, by his own account, is still intact today.
Key Takeaways
Vishal Malhotra reflected on his role in the 2008 film Jannat , calling it 'Chapter 2' of his career after his debut in Ishq Vishk .
Malhotra said his on-screen friendship with Emraan Hashmi extended beyond the film into a real personal bond.
He noted that people still approach him to recall specific scenes from Jannat, more than 15 years later.
Jannat 2 , a spiritual sequel released in 2012 , was directed by Kunal Deshmukh and starred Hashmi, Randeep Hooda , and Esha Gupta .
Malhotra shared a 'then and now' image of himself and Hashmi to mark the retrospective.
Actor Vishal Malhotra has opened up about his enduring bond with Emraan Hashmi, revealing how a friendship forged on the sets of the 2008 film Jannat quietly grew into something that outlasted the credits. Sharing a retrospective on his film journey, Malhotra described Jannat as a chapter that 'refuses to leave' him — even years after its release.
A Second Chapter That Stayed
Malhotra, who made his debut with Ishq Vishk alongside Shahid Kapoor, called Jannat his 'Chapter 2' — a film he stepped into five years after his first. 'A film about ambition, love, friendship, choices… and how sometimes the things we chase can end up changing us,' he wrote, reflecting on what the project meant to him.
He noted that even today, people stop him to talk about specific scenes and moments from the film. 'Every time they do, I'm transported straight back to 2008,' he said.
When On-Screen Friendship Became Real
Malhotra and Hashmi played friends in Jannat, and according to Malhotra, that dynamic did not end when filming wrapped. 'Emraan and I played friends on screen. Somewhere along the way, that friendship travelled beyond the film as well,' he wrote. He described the shared experience of a film set — 'the madness, the work, the moving on' — as the unlikely foundation for a lasting personal connection.
'Same two friends. A few more years. A few more stories. And thankfully, the friendship remains,' he added, noting that he had also shared a 'then and now' image capturing the two across the years.
About Jannat and Its Sequel
Released in 2008, Jannat starred Emraan Hashmi and became a commercially successful drama. It was followed by Jannat 2 in 2012, a spy thriller directed by Kunal Deshmukh, featuring Hashmi alongside Randeep Hooda and Esha Gupta. The sequel is considered a spiritual follow-up rather than a direct continuation of the original story.
Malhotra closed his reflection with a line that drew a clear distinction between credits and legacy: 'Some films are a part of your filmography. Some become a part of your story. This one became part of mine.'
Point of View
But audiences clearly do. What is more telling is the friendship angle: in an industry where co-star relationships are often transactional and PR-managed, a candid, years-later acknowledgement of a genuine bond is uncommon. Whether this surfaces ahead of any new collaboration remains to be seen, but the timing — shared publicly with a 'then and now' visual — is deliberate enough to warrant attention.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vishal Malhotra say about his friendship with Emraan Hashmi?
Vishal Malhotra said that he and Emraan Hashmi played friends in the 2008 film Jannat, and that the friendship extended beyond the film into their real lives. He described it as a bond that has endured over the years, sharing a 'then and now' image of the two to illustrate its longevity.
What was Vishal Malhotra's role in Jannat?
Vishal Malhotra appeared in the 2008 film Jannat alongside Emraan Hashmi. He described the film as 'Chapter 2' of his career, coming five years after his debut in Ishq Vishk with Shahid Kapoor.
What is Jannat 2 and how does it relate to the original?
Jannat 2 is a 2012 spy thriller directed by Kunal Deshmukh, starring Emraan Hashmi, Randeep Hooda, and Esha Gupta. It is a spiritual sequel to the 2008 original Jannat, not a direct continuation of its story.
Why did Vishal Malhotra call Jannat a film that 'refuses to leave' him?
Malhotra said that even years after its release, people regularly stop him to discuss specific scenes and moments from Jannat. He described the film as one that became part of his personal story rather than just his filmography.
