Emraan Hashmi’s successful return with Awarapan 2 has once again put the actor in the spotlight. While audiences are revisiting his career and the legacy of the Awarapan franchise, his family connection to another major Hindi film star continues to intrigue Bollywood fans.
Emraan Hashmi and Alia Bhatt are relatives through their extended family. The connection goes back to actress Meherbano Mohammad Ali, better known by her screen name Purnima, and her sister Shirin Mohammad Ali.
Although Emraan and Alia have built independent careers and carry different surnames, their family trees meet through their fathers’ side.
How Are Emraan Hashmi and Alia Bhatt Related?
The relationship can be traced through Emraan Hashmi’s grandmother, Meherbano Mohammad Ali.
Meherbano, who worked as an actress in Hindi cinema, was the sister of Shirin Mohammad Ali. Shirin was the mother of filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt.
Mahesh Bhatt is Alia Bhatt’s father.
Meherbano, meanwhile, was married to Syed Shaukat Hashmi, and their son Anwar Hashmi is Emraan’s father.
This makes Mahesh Bhatt and Anwar Hashmi first cousins, while their children, Alia Bhatt and Emraan Hashmi, are second cousins.
The Family Tree in Simple Terms
- Meherbano Mohammad Ali (Purnima) — Emraan Hashmi’s grandmother
- Shirin Mohammad Ali — Meherbano’s sister
- Mahesh Bhatt — Shirin’s son and Alia Bhatt’s father
- Anwar Hashmi — Meherbano’s son and Emraan Hashmi’s father
- Alia Bhatt and Emraan Hashmi — second cousins
The connection has occasionally surprised fans because the two actors have different surnames and have largely pursued separate professional paths.
Alia Bhatt Has Spoken About Their Family Connection
Alia has previously acknowledged Emraan as part of her extended family.
In a 2013 conversation with PTI, she was described in the context of her famous family as Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter and actor Emraan Hashmi’s cousin.
The family relationship, therefore, is not merely a piece of fan speculation. It has been publicly acknowledged by Alia.
Emraan Hashmi Has Praised Alia’s Acting
Despite their family connection, Emraan has generally spoken about Alia in professional terms when discussing her work.
In a 2017 interview with Hindustan Times, he praised her development as an actor.
“Oh, she is amazing. She has tremendously grown as an actor and deserves all the praise coming her way. She is truly very talented,” Emraan said.
At the time, he admitted that he had not watched most of Alia’s films, but he was keen to catch up with her work.
He also recalled that Alia had been upset with him for not watching her debut film, Student of the Year.
According to Emraan, he eventually got the film on DVD, watched it and congratulated her.
He later watched 2 States and also praised her performance.
Why Emraan Hashmi Said He Would Not Romance Alia On Screen
The family connection has occasionally led to an unusual question: could Emraan and Alia ever play a romantic couple in a film?
Emraan’s response has been unequivocal.
He has previously said that he could work with Alia in a sibling role but would find a romantic pairing uncomfortable because they are cousins.
“I can only work with her as a brother. Any other thing would make me sick. I can’t romance my cousin and I don’t think anyone has done that; it would be awkward,” he said in an earlier interview.
On another occasion, he suggested that playing siblings would be a more natural choice.
“I think on screen we should play brother and sister in the film then it will be good. Otherwise I think it will be twisted,” he said.
His comments reflected the distinction between their real-life family relationship and their professional careers as actors.
What Has Alia Bhatt Said About Emraan Hashmi?
Alia has also expressed admiration for Emraan’s work.
In an earlier interview, she described him as “a great, easy and natural actor.”
She has also acknowledged the different paths they took despite both coming from families with strong connections to the Hindi film industry.
Alia has spoken about the struggles Emraan faced in establishing himself as an actor despite his family background.
“Though he is also from a filmi family, like me, he has had to struggle a lot to reach the position in which he is today,” she said.
That observation highlights an important aspect of their relationship: while both belong to a prominent film family, neither actor’s career can simply be reduced to their family connections.
Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 Brings Him Back Into Focus
Emraan’s family connection to Alia comes at a time when the actor is receiving renewed attention following the release of Awarapan 2.
The sequel follows the legacy of the 2007 film Awarapan, which developed a strong following over the years despite its initial theatrical performance.
Awarapan 2 sees Emraan return in the franchise and features Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi among its cast.
The renewed interest in the film has also encouraged audiences to revisit Emraan’s earlier career and some of the lesser-known details surrounding the actor.
His relationship with Alia Bhatt remains one of the more interesting examples of how deeply interconnected several established Bollywood families are.
Two Actors, Two Very Different Careers
While Emraan Hashmi and Alia Bhatt share a family connection, their professional journeys have been markedly different.
Emraan rose to prominence through films such as Murder, Gangster, Jannat, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and Awarapan, developing a reputation particularly in romantic thrillers and crime dramas before taking on a broader range of roles.
Alia, meanwhile, moved from her debut in Student of the Year to critically acclaimed performances in films including Highway, Udta Punjab, Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Their shared family history may make for an interesting trivia point, but both actors have ultimately established identities of their own.
The Bottom Line
Emraan Hashmi and Alia Bhatt are second cousins, with the connection running through their grandmothers’ generation. Emraan’s grandmother Meherbano Mohammad Ali was the sister of Shirin Mohammad Ali, whose son Mahesh Bhatt is Alia’s father.
The two actors have acknowledged their relationship publicly and have also praised each other’s work. Yet, despite belonging to the same extended film family, they have followed distinctly separate paths in Hindi cinema.
