Emraan Hashmi doesn’t like “walking on the beaten path”. This becomes clear with his choice of films. He has time and again chosen parts that are different from his regular onscreen appearances.

In his latest film, Harami, he plays a 50-year-old professor who trains a gang of poor kids to pick pockets. Hashmi says, “I don’t think I would’ve been given a role of such an aged guy in a regular commercial film. That’s not how those scripts are penned. So along with enjoying my mainstream journey, l love dabbling into other kind of cinema.” Hashmi feels that sometimes these limitations in the industry don’t let an actor experiment much.

“You generally get labelled and are seen in sync with certain kind of films. You can’t really push the envelope too much,” he explains.

Hashmi recalls how when he did Shanghai (2012), he was told that after having done successful films this move might affect his career. “As a performer I need to gratify my creative itch. And every time I get a good opportunity I don’t let it go,” he says.

While the response from the viewers is kept in highest regards, the actor doesn’t choose films thinking “how the audience will react”. “I choose projects instinctively. If I feel a story is important and needs to be told and I would be proud associating with it, I take it up. I know some actors only see commercial viability and there is nothing wrong to that. I want to have that balance,” he shares.