Be it JK in The Family Man, Lolark Dubey in Asur or Sharad Bellary in Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story — actor Sharib Hashmi is a force to reckon with in the OTT space. And it won’t be wrong to say the medium gave his career a new lease of life. The actor, who made his debut with the acclaimed 2012 film Filmistaan but hit a rocky patch post that, admits the digital revolution turned his life around.

“Though I did sign a few films after Filmistaan, somehow things didn’t work out the way I imagined. Career mein ek slump aa gaya tha, and then I got The Family Man, then Asur, followed by Scam 1992... I have now signed some big banner films like Vikram Vedha and Mission Majnu,” says the 46-year-old.

His portrayal of a spy alongside the protagonist played by actor Manoj Bajpayee in TFM, fetched him a lot of popularity, and proved that web shows provide room for every actor shines equally.

Hashmi agrees that the definition of a hero has changed. “The audience only focusses on the characters now, and not at who’s a hero or the supporting actor. If they want to watch a (conventional) hero, they turn to the big screen [for films] like Pushpa: The Rise, RRR and Sooryavanshi (2021). On OTT, they like to watch hardcore, realistic and engaging stuff,” says the actor.

Films have often been considered bigger than television and other mediums. So when the going was rough, was Hashmi advised to not work on the web, since it was comparatively new?

He replies, “No one advised me this, thankfully, and even if they did I wouldn’t have listened. But I was told ‘hero ke dost ka role kabhi mat karna, you will get typecast, sirf ussi type ke roles milenge’. But when I was offered TFM, my opinion changed. If it’s a role like my character, JK, main kud kud ke karunga, 50 baar karunga even if I get stereotyped!”

And, his discography is proof that he has been anything but typecast. From characters with shades of grey to comedy and action — he has touched upon multiple genres.

Ask him if there’s any particular genre he wants to try his hands at next, Hashmi shares he believes in prioritizing the script over the genre. “Maine aisa koi criteria nahin banaya hai. Never say never. I haven’t made any such plans. I just want a good script, director and production house — exactly in this order. And then the platform on which it will be aired,” he shares.

With such meaty parts in popular web shows coming his way, has his value as an actor increased? He shares, The medium you work on does not decide your market value. How well you negotiate, does.”