With Atif becoming a household name in India, it's the turn of talented twenty-something Pakistani youngster, Mustafa Zahid, to come under the illustrious Bhatt umbrella. Mustafa's To Phir Aao from Awarapan has become an overnight rage and is on its way to becoming a cult hit like the tracks on the Bhatts' erstwhile soundtracks.
Not many know that vocalist Musti (as Mustafa is fondly called) formed the ROXEN band a few years back in Pakistan with Jawad Muhammad (known as Jodi) on rhythm guitars.
Later on Omar Farooq joined them on bass. The name suggested by Musti's friend Kashaan has been derived from Roxen-e-Deewar, which means a light inlet in the prison.
It seems Khurram from Jilawatan Productions in Pakistan was in touch with Mahesh Bhatt. The latter liked To Phir Aao and the track found its way into Awarapan.
"To Phir Aao is my film's signature track," says director Mohit Suri. "It's one of the most brilliant numbers I've heard. We have it in three different versions on the soundtrack - lounge, rock and remix.
It's already playing in the clubs. People are loving it," he signs off from the suite where he Awarapan is being edited for a June 29 release.