“Akkha Bollywood ek taraf, aur Emraan Hashmi ek taraf,” is an epic one-liner by Raghav Juyal (The Ba***ds of Bollywood) that’s going to be etched into cinematic history. The versatile star who closed 2025 with Haq has kick-started the New Year with Netflix’s Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, which portrays him as a customs officer.

In an exclusive interaction with mid-day, Emraan shares what’s on his checklist when it comes to signing on the dotted line, his take on the “serial kisser” tag despite a career trajectory of over two decades, and more.

Emraan, who can’t seem to shake off his “serial kisser” tag, had to encounter something similar during the show’s trailer launch in Mumbai. The actor, who has been in showbiz for over two decades, states that it’s been ages since he’s been christened with the same.

“Some journos want clickbait, and things get a little unethical. You just have to tackle it with a certain amount of humour and not let it affect you. You're living in a country that gets stirred up with these things. I guess they're also catering to an audience that reacts strongly to these things, and they get their views.”

Emraan observes that while journalists have their own narratives to craft, in a relatively conservative culture, provocative statements quickly become sensationalized.

“When I was doing these 'bold scenes', the first talking point, the headline, was about the kiss. And apparently, it's still there. Not as much, but it's still there. It's very pervasive in our culture. But you’ve got to take it in your stride,” he adds. 

Over the years, Emraan has dabbled in projects that have a layer of quirk. He doesn’t rack his brain to dissect what the audience may or may not like. Once the script connects to him at a deeper level, he’s in for the ride. However, a big no for him would be a lack of conviction. 

Emraan, who dons the customs uniform in the show, is a treat to watch. When questioned hypothetically about what he would stop from being smuggled into India, he answers, “Drugs. That's a no-brainer. Huge credit to, of course, the customs officers, because the consequences and the price you pay are huge.”