Showing posts with label Emraan Hashmi interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emraan Hashmi interview. Show all posts
It is important to say no to more films than say yes-Emraan Hashmi
9:33 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2026)
Emraan Hashmi has steadily evolved from romantic leads and anti-heroes to playing layered officials and intelligence officers in projects like Shanghai, Bard of Blood and Tiger 3. His latest web show, Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, features him as a customs officer.
On preparing for diverse roles, Emraan says, “It’s a very chaotic thing. There is no particular streamline where I play different characters. There is a journey you see on paper... the arc of the character through the episodes. What is great is that in a show you get seven episodes to play it out, so you get more meat.”
Research and observation, he adds, are key. “My memory bank of constantly travelling and seeing people in different countries… the decorum they follow when on duty, the body language, it is there in my memory bank. Jamming with the director, the team, other actors, writers is what helped.”
Discussing roles he hopes to explore, Emraan says, “I have never played an Air Force pilot — that is something I want to portray on screen. A man in uniform is always interesting to play. We are just about scratching the surface… theatrically or on OTT. I hope more writers tap into that.”
Reflecting on his career, he notes, “There are some actors who probably want to play the same variation of roles. I have done that earlier in my career. But what I found merit in was getting into the skin of different characters through the journey.”
He said, “My first taste of it was in Shanghai (2012). Even in my first film, Footpath (2003), this thrill was there. You come back home and you know you pushed yourself… you are emotionally spent because you play another personality.”
That pursuit of novelty continues to guide his choices. “That has been my goal — always surprise the audience with something they have not seen you do. After so many years, it becomes very difficult sometimes. That is why you have to say no to more films than say yes.”
With nearly 50 films behind him, Emraan says, “When something like a customs officer’s role in a Neeraj Pandey project comes to you, then you grab it with both hands.”
Haq is not singling out people from a certain community or maligning it-Emraan Hashmi
10:34 AM
Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi meet the winners of HT City Stars in the City as they talk about their upcoming film and its hopeful impact
Compiled by Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 5, 2025)
Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam Dhar were in Delhi recently to meet the winners of the latest edition of HT City Stars In The City. The actors, who will soon be seen together in Haq, were game for any questions that came their way.
The conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor-Entertainment & Lifestyle, began with a light-hearted chat about Delhi and its food, but soon ventured into serious territory. The duo’s upcoming film, revolving around the landmark Shah Bano case, deals with a sensitive theme: a divorced Muslim woman fighting for maintenance from her husband.
Sharing how he approached the role and the nuances it demanded, Emraan said, “I had to see it from the lens of a Muslim for the first time. The script wanted to humanize the man a bit, although in retrospect, it might seem like a patriarchal angle. Hero vs villain would have been typical; that’s what we generally do in Bollywood to sell our films. But this film takes a very unbiased look at the case.”
As for Yami, who has often been labelled the ‘poster girl of nationalism’ and is now taking what could be seen as a ‘risk’ with Haq, she said, “I have been in the industry since 2012. I made my debut with a film unconventional for its time, Vicky Donor (2012). I’m trying to stick to being that person I always was. The only reason I should exist here, or mean something to someone, is through my work. For that, my role, my script, and my team are very important.”
On a scale of 1-10, when you heard that Haq is inspired by the Shah Bano case, how jittery were you thinking this is controversial?
Yami: Controversy, debate, discussion — that is not the first thought as an artiste. It’s always how I feel after reading the script. Of course, it’s the powerful story of a very courageous woman back in the 1980s. Today, there are multiple conversations to express what we want, what can be done to make things better. Back in the day, there was nothing of that sort. That woman did it without the intent of making it controversial, but just to literally do what every mother does for their child. How can she provide the best for her children? I thought Haq was a wonderfully written script.
Emraan: There were questions when I signed this film. I have done films of a certain nature. But it’s very important as an actor to do a gamut of characters. That, for me, is growth as an artiste. If you don’t risk things, that’s not art, that’s empty marketing. You do those popcorn flicks that release and are forgotten after the first week of theatrical release, which is fine, that’s part of business. But films (like Haq) are important, too. You want to do films that leave behind a message and will stay in people’s conversations... Haq is not singling out people from a certain community or maligning it. It’s about people from a community; it could be any community.
Yami, you have the image now of being the poster girl for nationalism. People think you are sticking to tradition when other women in Bollywood are more westernized. Were you told that Shah Bano’s case supports a nationalistic cause of common laws in the country, and was that a reason to do this film?
If there is any other motivation for me to choose the kind of roles that I do other than creative, the whole purpose of being an artiste fails.
Emraan, your recent role in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood went viral. How’s it been?
First of all, that line ‘Akkha Bollywood ek taraf, Emraan Hashmi ek taraf’ was a masterstroke by writers Bilal Siddiqui and Aryan Khan (also director of the series). That was not the original scene written for me! At first, (my character) was supposed to be at a film premiere, and (actor) Raghav Juyal’s character starts crying as he sees me. But one month before the show’s shoot, (the role) became an intimacy coordinator. Aryan called Bilal, and then I was asked if I was okay doing it. I was like, ‘If I can’t play an intimacy coordinator, nobody else can!’ Shah Rukh (Khan, actor) sir loved the idea, and we shot the scene. There was a lot of improv… Raghav’s crying had us in splits. We didn’t expect that he would go to that level of OTT (over the top)! You don’t know what goes viral and sticks with the audience.
How did your son Ayaan react to the show’s popularity?
Life hasn’t changed after the show; I realized it’s something fans have been missing, a vintage version of what people had seen. My son, though, is embarrassed about it. In school, they had to facilitate things, either head a certain society or something. All his friends said, ‘Why don’t you become an intimacy coach?’ He’s like, ‘You have ruined things for me at school! (laughs)’
If you don’t challenge yourself, before you know it, the audience will boo you out-Emraan Hashmi
10:03 AM
Emraan Hashmi explains why he decided to break the mould and not do the kind of films he started out with; adds he’s happy with the work coming his way
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 23, 2024)
Emraan Hashmi turns 45 in two days (March 25). He was all of 24 when he was nudged by his uncle (filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt) to get into films. And there’s been no looking back for him. In a no holds barred chat, the actor admits that his film choices have changed. Hashmi recently earned rave reviews for Showtime. He also had a resurgence of sorts with Tiger 3 (2023).
Ask if he’s in a comfortable space now, professionally, and he says, “I have always been secure, even if I felt my films were not faring well. I believe this industry is fair. If you are a thorough professional and you do your work well, work will eventually flow in. I am in a happy space because of the offers I am getting now. Projects are more acting oriented. I’ve done movies that people found disastrous in my career, like Shanghai (2012) between Murder 2 (2011) and Raaz 3 (2012).”
‘TWO FILMS NOT WORKING HIT ME HARD’
Hashmi’s earlier string of hits, including Murder (2004), Jannat (2008) and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai (2010), had intense stories, great soundtracks and kissing scenes. However, Hashmi shocked the audience when he started changing gears. While Ek Thi Daayan (2013) was a horror drama, Why Cheat India? (2019) was about the education system. The time between 2016 to 2023 wasn’t kind, with films such as Ghanchakkar (2013), Raja Natwarlal (2014) and Baadshaho (2017) not working.
He says, “The audience was perhaps shifting. OTT had started creeping in. What really hit me was Why Cheat India not working. I did something different, but since OTT was coming in, people were engaged with that material on the medium. I was hearing chatter like, ‘Films like these are already on OTT’. I didn’t play up to the star. I showcased my acting chops, but people didn’t want to see me doing that. Another film, The Body, was a delayed release. It was a confusing time for me.”
NO BARD OF BLOOD 2
Realizing that the audience was taking to OTT, he gave a nod to the spy series Bard Of Blood (2019) that marked his OTT debut: “It did well. But unfortunately, a second season is not happening. The team had to zone in on a script. It was almost green lit. But none seemed to work. The first season was based on a book, but we couldn’t crack the script for a second one.”
‘PEOPLE WHO WATCHED MY EARLIER FILMS ARE MARRIED NOW’
Why didn’t he stick to his template of films and the bad-boy avatar from a commercial point of view? Hashmi explains, “It wouldn’t have done well beyond a point, and it didn’t. The audience is ever-changing. If you keep serving the same meal to the audience, they get fed up. Challenging yourself is what an actor is all about. If you don’t, before you know it, the audience will boo you out.”
He says the young audience from back in the day, who loved his kind of films, are all married now. So he has a new fan base to cater to: “Now there’s a Gen Z, millennial audience. People grow up, a younger audience comes in. Their heroes are different, they watch OTT. I’ll have to give them something new and up my game, else I’d sink.”
JANNAT 3?
Ask if Jannat 3 is happening and Hashmi says, “I’d love to do that. The makers (Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt) have to come together again to make it happen, which I, unfortunately, don’t see happening. If by some stroke of luck or miracle that happens, it’ll happen. Till then, my life goes on. I have a couple of projects that will be announced soon, solo films that have that streak that the audience loved to see me in... as the bad boy. I will try to kick-start that again.”
In Bollywood, we play it too safe. I think we should change that-Emraan Hashmi
10:05 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 13, 2024)
Bollywood’s OG serial kisser boy has evolved. It has taken him time to break out of the box, but he did. In recent years, he’s been seen experimenting with a range of roles, including two-film hero projects like Selfiee and Tiger 3. The latter where he played the anti-hero brought him back into the spotlight. Emraan talks to us about why he doesn’t want to be slotted as a villain, his foray into south films and more.
‘Earlier, my idea of a villain was that he will only be painted as this dark character’
Talking about the switch in his career, Emraan says, “People wouldn’t have thought of me featuring me in a Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar starrer. They are two different worlds and when they collide, there’s something that sparks off. I think Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai would be one of my first films in that space. It took a lot of convincing on Milan’s (Luthria, director) part to get me to do that part. I was reluctant because I was playing just the main leads until then. Earlier, my idea of a villain was that he will only be painted as this dark character. But in that film, I played the anti-hero. The same goes with my role in Tiger 3. He is the hero of his own narrative. I wouldn’t like to play a one-toned villain in a film. I am grateful to filmmakers to have realized that and experimented with that. I just go with the flow, and I don’t yearn to do films in a certain genre.”
‘I don’t want to get slotted as a villain’
He enjoys playing the antagonist in films, but he doesn’t want to do that repeatedly. He elaborates, “I have done few antagonist roles. I don’t want to get slotted in villainous roles. Yes, it is an interesting time to experiment. People are liking the larger-than-life experience in films where two titans are taking on each other.”
‘There was a deliberate effort to try something different’
When he had started out, Emraan was known for a certain kind of cinema – intimate and bold. He was trapped in the image for years before he finally broke away from it. Ask him what’s his hook as an actor today and he says, “I think that finding a groove is dangerous because that could put you in a box again. I hated the fact that I was boxed into certain kind of roles for almost 15 years. There was a deliberate effort to get out of that box and try something different because I wasn’t growing as an actor. I was sleepwalking on every set. That is when I took up films like Shanghai and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. It’s actually a huge trap. A lot of actors from the West also probably bail out from doing characters like Bond, because you gradually get boxed in sometimes. They say it is detrimental to your career because people can’t see you as anything else when you come out of that.”
‘I never imagined myself getting into the south film industry’
Between all the leaps he has been taking as an actor, the biggest plunge is venturing into a pan-India south project. Talking about the film, where he features with Telugu star Pawan Kalyan, he says, “I never imagined myself getting into the south film industry. But it was a fantastic script and a great character. Sujeeth is a great director and is making this film on an enormous canvas.”
‘We have a lot to learn from the way south films are made’
Ask him how different it is working in the south film industry, and he says, “I think south filmmakers are way more disciplined than we are (in Hindi cinema). Every penny that they spend on their film shows on screen. I think we often spend money in the wrong areas in Hindi films, and it doesn’t eventually translate on screen. They have finesse in their films when it comes to VFX, the scale and choice of path-breaking stories. We have some ground to cover before we can match that and we have a lot to learn from the way they make films.”
People feel teen mahine mein body ban jayegi-Emraan Hashmi
8:26 AM
The actor shares that achieving one’s physical fitness goals requires a lot of resilience and is a very demanding task
Naina Arora (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2021)
His ripped physique has got fans swooning on social media. And actor Emraan Hashmi reveals that “it’s not for a role”, but his personal fitness goal, to get fitter and stronger.
Hashmi, who has been sharing pictures from the gym, tells us, “I was generally working out because I was fed up of my physical aspect and wanted to change that... It was like a ‘been there, done that’ phase for my training regime.” The shift, he adds, happened during lockdown, when he felt motivated to make greater strides towards his goals.
“You don’t know what to do with yourself for 16-17 waking hours (during the lockdown). It started with me diligently working out last year, and then I began working out twice a day. Once the lockdown ended, I got a good trainer just to understand the science behind it. I was struggling with a few things, working out by myself... I wanted to put on lean muscle mass and increase strength. I needed professional advice for it,” says the Mumbai Saga actor, who is trained by fitness expert and bodybuilding champion Miihier Singh and professional bodybuilding athlete Kuhu Bhosle.
Hashmi, 42, admits that such transformations come with their share of challenges. “It needs a lot of will, resilience and mental prep. It just constantly keeps me on my feet every morning. To get out there and push yourself to not just work out, but to push yourself, to give your very best of everything that you can take out from your body... It’s a very demanding task. You have to go all the way in your training,” he shares, and stresses on the importance of being realistic as well as patient.
“I told them (trainers) that I didn’t have any unreasonable timelines. People feel teen mahine mein body ban jayegi. That’s totally untrue. It depends on what your starting point is. You could [do it] in three months, but it would also depend on what your goal is, how much fat you want to shed, how much muscle mass you want to gain,” the actor elaborates.
Enjoying his current fitness regime, Hashmi says, “I am so used to this, and loving it so much. I don’t think I can imagine my life without this training regime.”
Maharashtra would have been a great addition because it makes up for 30% of the business-Emraan Hashmi
8:10 AM
Relieved to have shed the serial kisser tag in the past few years, Emraan Hashmi says upcoming films, starting with 'Chehre', will explore his potential to the fullest
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 27, 2021)
In March, when few filmmakers were betting big on theatres, Emraan Hashmi’s Mumbai Saga pursued a big-screen release. Five months and the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic later, producers continue to take the safety net of OTT premieres. Hashmi, in contrast, is theatre-bound again with Chehre.
Surely, the decision comes with its share of risks — movie halls in Maharashtra have yet to reopen — but the actor is ready to take the gamble. “Maharashtra would have been a great addition because it makes up for 30 per cent of the business. But we want to put the film out there before anything else happens. There is [little] doubt that India will go through the third wave,” he says, aware that box-office figures are of little consequence at the moment.
Numbers, in fact, have rarely influenced Hashmi’s decision over the past decade as he attempted different subjects. The serial kisser tag has been thankfully left behind. “I don’t get those offers at all,” he says, relieved. “Cinema in itself has changed. People have upped the [bold] quotient now. Back then, a kiss had shock value; now, the shock value is much more in OTT [projects]. The scripts offered to me right now are the kind of cinema I always wanted to do.”
A discussion about the actor often invites remarks about how his potential has remained untapped in Bollywood. Does he share the sentiment? “Every actor’s talent is untapped. You need a good director to bring out another side of you. You are only as good as the script and the director. If I have a mediocre movie, I will by default be mediocre in it. That said, you will see different facets of me in my upcoming films.”
That includes his latest murder mystery, which sees him rub shoulders with Amitabh Bachchan. “On the first day, I was a bit nervous to face him. I had to work doubly hard to match up to him.”
A big action-adventure or a sci-fi film might draw the audience back to the theatres-Emraan Hashmi
7:59 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 1, 2021)
The second wave of the pandemic has affected most business across the country. While some pockets seem to be on the road to recovery, others are trying hard to get there. Cinemas in India had gradually begun to open up in the thick of the festive season last year after remaining shut for several months. However, in April this year, the second wave of the pandemic forced theatre chains to pull down their shutters. In the last year, content consumption patterns and viewing habits have gone through a sea change with releases largely restricted to digital channels.
Emraan Hashmi believes that it might be difficult to point out what might draw the audience back to theatres when we get to the other side. The actor’s film, Mumbai Saga, was among 2021’s first big-canvas releases, shortly before the second wave.
Emraan says, “Today, we don’t know exactly what content people would like to consume in theatres. If I go purely by logic, small and medium-sized films with high content and big ideas might be consumed at home on digital platforms. It’s the experience of certain films that often draws people to spend and watch it on the big screen with sound effects. This is off-the-cuff thinking, but the big-ticket experience might draw people back to cinemas. What we call the tent-pole films. Why else would a consumer spend money to buy a ticket for a film that can be watched at home? A big action-adventure or a sci-fi film might draw the audience back to the theatres; that is where I see it going. I could be entirely wrong in making this assumption, and we can only find out when normalcy is restored and people start getting out of their homes without any fear.”
There have been conversations for international films, but I would not want to do a blink and miss part-Emraan Hashmi
8:06 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 7, 2021)
It’s been nearly a month since film shoots in Mumbai were stalled. Shoots either moved out of the state or were deferred entirely. Shortly before the new set of restrictions were imposed in Maharashtra, Emraan Hashmi’s Mumbai Saga, also starring John Abraham, was released in theatres. But then, the second wave took over and all other releases and shoots came to a standstill in Mumbai. Talking about the impact of the second wave, Emraan says, “I don’t want to sound like this is happening to our industry or me alone. I just find myself in a fortunate place that my family and friends are secure. Health is the priority right now for everyone. We are living in scary times. As an individual and an artiste, you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
Talk to him about how much he misses being on a film set in these unpredictable times, and the actor says, “It turns me on to be on a set and to be deeply involved in playing a character. When you stay away from a film set for a long time, you feel insecurities and frustrations of some sort simmering inside. Yes, it is disappointing and frustrating that you can’t do what you love doing the most. But what do you do? Waiting is the only option. We have to see how this resolves itself. We’re all grappling with the current situation, and as I said, other things, including health and safety are the main priorities now.”
As he inches closer to the two-decade mark in Bollywood, Emraan is already thinking of what would interest him as an actor at this point and in the future. He says, “For me, it will always be about the basics — narrating strong stories — because that is what people want, and not necessarily on any particular medium. It does not matter to me where the content plays out, as that’s always the producer’s prerogative. It’s about honing your craft. That’s where I come from, and now more so, with the doors of the digital platforms flung open even wider than before. When I did my first show with an OTT platform, people wondered why I did it. For me, it’s always been about the story. My priority is to do great work, chase quality over quantity, be a part of great stories and team up with some fantastic filmmakers. With the advent of the OTT space and an added degree of exposure to international content, I want to take that step forward and explore a project outside of our country whenever possible. The ingredients for an OTT movie or a show are pretty much clear to everyone now. In unprecedented times like these, which have pushed the theatrical business into a different space, one will have to observe and think harder to bring the audience back to the cinemas.”
Elaborating on how he sees his career evolving in the future, Emraan shares, “Hindi cinema is my first love and will always be, but I want to explore something internationally. I want a new journey and I want to try something outside the Indian market. That would be fun. In the next five years, I want to see that dream realised in some way.”
When asked if there have been conversations around this, the actor, who has worked with Oscar-winning, Bosnian filmmaker Danis Tanovic for Tigers, says, “I have collaborated for Tigers, but it went down a controversial route. The prospects would have been a lot better if that hadn’t happened. I was open about doing a film like that at that time — it was with an Oscar-nominated director and would have had a great international release had the controversies not erupted. It has always been at the back of my mind that I want to do something worth my while internationally. Eventually, it all boils down to great stories. If you do something for too long in the professional space, you tend to reach a saturation point, you get that been-there-done-that feeling. I don’t mean to say that Hindi cinema is giving me that feeling, but I am at a stage now where I want to try out something abroad. Yes, there have been conversations lately, but I would not want to do a blink-and-miss part. The project has to tick all the boxes.”
Shah Rukh, Salman & Aamir Khan have been through high and lows and yet kept moving forward-Emraan Hashmi
8:05 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 2, 2021)
As someone who is secure in his talent and being, Emraan Hashmi says he enjoys working with actors, especially the established names.
Talking about his working relationship with John Abraham, he says while he’d at first met the actor socially, he didn’t know him well until they worked together in Mumbai Saga. “It is heartening to work with someone like John, who is a gem of a person, a professional... He doesn’t get into the politics of things. He likes to switch off when his job is done. We connected well as we don’t roam around with the baggage of our fame and the work we have done,” says Hashmi.
The actor is also awaiting the release of Chehre, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, that got postponed due to the rising cases of Coronavirus. Admitting that he had a fanboy moment during their first meeting, Hashmi gushes, “I’d get those first-day jitters of meeting your hero, someone you idolise. But he puts you at ease and is so giving as an actor. I respect him as an actor because even after so many years, he still has the fire and the drive.”
While he has done two-hero films, he has not yet acted with the Khan trio — Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh. He says, “I worked with SRK, who produced the web show, Bard of Blood, and I’ve met Salman and Aamir on occasions as well. They have stood the test of time and have been through high and lows and yet kept moving forward… It is a tough industry, and to be on that level and keep things going and constantly fuelling that fire is an inspiration for me. Their body of work has impacted me as an artist on a subconscious level.”
I am anything but arrogant. It is just that I talk less-Emraan Hashmi
7:57 AM
Emraan Hashmi says actors need to be cautious and not get swayed by online praise or trolling
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 27, 2021)
With a pragmatic approach to his profession and a straightforward attitude, actor Emraan Hashmi says a lasting career in the entertainment industry involves keeping one’s bearings in place, being grounded and learning constantly.
Hashmi, who has spent 18 years in the industry, says, “It is never about the goalpost, not about the outcome of the journey; the relationships with people in the industry is what makes it worth. If you think only about the outcome, you won’t last long. There will be highs and lows, and they can dissuade you as an artiste. But you have to cling on to the passion for acting, which is what you came to the industry for. You can’t lose that. The hits are by-products and you have to enjoy the process to stick around for a long time. The love of performance and moulding a character is what should drive you.”
The Mumbai Saga actor asserts that one’s focus should be on the craft and the process; the rest of it is just noise. “What happens is with the world looking at you, one tends to focus on other things as an actor. I have seen a world without social media, and it becomes tougher for me as I have to adapt. One has to insulate oneself from social media as you can fall prey to the praise or the trolling. That can destroy your psyche just as easily. It is a hyper critical world out there right now. Everyone has an opinion about filmmaking and performances. You have to be true to yourself and your love for the craft,” says the 42-year-old.
He credits his family for his realistic approach to his career. For him, acting is a “job”, and he realised right at the beginning, that if you are not clear about who you are and where you stand, it is very easy to get swayed. “When you are an actor, it is easy to get carried away by the things people tell you. Your fate here changes every Friday — one day you could be a star and the next day, you might not have ample work. Staying pragmatic and stoic is the only way to survive here,” he says, adding, “This is who I am. This is who I have always been. To those who did not know me, I came across as cold and arrogant. I am anything but arrogant. It is just that I talk less. I am inherently an introvert.”
Amitabh Bachchan reminds you nothing should be taken for granted-Emraan Hashmi
7:56 AM
Counting himself lucky to work with screen idol Amitabh Bachchan in Chehre, Emraan Hashmi on how veteran’s passion for cinema rubbed off on him
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 27, 2021)
Emraan Hashmi has no qualms in acknowledging that the decision to be part of Chehre was prompted by the fanboy rather than the artiste in him. After all, the Rumy Jafry-directed mystery drama offered him the rare opportunity of working with Amitabh Bachchan. “The man is a megastar with four decades of relentless work behind him. Indian cinema begins and ends with his name. In my formative years, I looked up to him. On set, he would be sitting next to me, unaware of how he has shaped my worldview,” says the actor.
After seeing Bachchan’s passion for cinema, one inevitably wonders if they will have the same drive at 78. Hashmi asserts that his commitment to the craft runs deep. “I have ambition, but I don’t know whether it will be enhanced, or fade away after 35 years. I aspire to have his drive. I remember we were stuck in a blizzard in Slovakia, and he didn’t go back to his car for five hours, instead shooting with us. He reminds you that nothing should be taken for granted.”
With the entertainment industry hitting the pause button in 2020, it gave Hashmi time to reflect on his two-decade career and brought about a shift in his perspective, which will soon reflect in his choice of projects. “Four years ago, I was doing films at a higher frequency. But I don’t want to be offered similar scripts. It takes time for fresh [stories] to come your way,” says the actor, who had a masala potboiler in Mumbai Saga, and will follow it up with Harami and the third instalment of Tiger.
Ask him about the fate of the second season of Bard Of Blood, and he says, “It’s easy to adapt a book, but trickier to extend it beyond the pages. There was a lot of writing, and tearing of pages. At the moment, it’s not happening. But Netflix and Red Chillies are the best people to crack the idea and take it further.”
When Sanjay Gupta told me that he's planning to cast Emraan Hashmi, my eyes lit up-John Abraham
8:08 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 19, 2021)
John Abraham is known for his action-packed entertainers and concept-driven productions. Meanwhile, in recent years, Emraan Hashmi has been seen in movies that have given him ample scope to display his acting chops. Over to John and Emraan, who talk to BT about the central characters they play in Sanjay Gupta’s gangster-drama Mumbai Saga that releases today:
Both of you have been a part of gangster dramas before, what drove you to you give the nod to Mumbai Saga?
Emraan: I didn’t know anything about the character or the story, but even without the narration, I wanted to work with Sanjay Gupta. His films are among those pieces of work that make for a defining cinematic experience. I remember I had seen Kaante in a single-screen theatre and was blown away by it. This time, I wanted to know his characters, his process of working and how he tells his story. It somehow resonated with me. I really liked the character of Vijay Savarkar, and John was on board, too, and I wanted to work with him. Yes, in an ensemble, insecurities fly high before you go to the set. John and Gupta had worked together, but it was a new set up for me. It turned out to be a completely secure and fun zone to be in and the best that an actor can ask for.
John: I had worked with Sanjay on Shootout At Wadala and Zinda. But this film was completely different from the other two. It is more mature and complete as a film, especially when I compare it to Shootout At Wadala. That was Manya Surve’s story, but this is a story of conflicts, which makes it more interesting and rounded with so many different elements coming together. When Gups (Sanjay Gupta) told me that he was looking at Emraan to play Savarkar, my eyes lit up because he is an actor I have been looking forward to working with. It’s difficult for me to explain, but when you see the film, you’ll realise how much his entry benefits the story. The way the story moves, you will find yourselves invariably rooting for Amartya and Savarkar at different times.
Emraan, while talking to BT, Sanjay had mentioned that your character was not written in the stereotypical style of a two-hero film, although the screen time has been well-balanced. Did that trouble you?
Emraan: I have never been that sort of an actor who looks at the screen time. I have always opted for characters depending on what they lend to the story and the impact they have on a film. Having said that, when you see the film, you will feel that both our characters leave a mark, and everything and everyone in the film has been justified in terms of their character arcs. As actors, we all look at what our characters mean to the story and maybe, at times, even what others are up to. With Mumbai Saga, I loved the fact that I was playing a cop for the first time, and it was a brand new space to explore.
John, you’ve played a dreaded gangster in a Sanjay Gupta film earlier, how far has he gone with this one?
John: I feel safe working with Gupta. It would be a risk to do another gangster film with him if it was only the story of my character, like it was Manya’s story in Shootout At Wadala. Here, the story is about a larger conflict and my character is probably at a pivotal point in that. As for Emraan, his character is in the zone that I was in, in Zinda. While Shootout At Wadala had high levels of testosterone, this film has a more mature story.
This film captures a certain period that Mumbai as a city went through. Both of you were probably in school during the 1980s and 1990s when Mumbai was going through the transformation. What are your memories of that time?
Emraan: I was very young when kids used to talk about these gangsters like they were urban legends. There would be so much misinformation, but people used to talk about antisocial elements and all that was happening at that time. They would whisper and talk in muffled tones. And then, the riots shook the foundation of the city. We got three days off from school at that time. It felt like a jolt at that age when your world is all about books and cartoons. It is tough to comprehend that such people exist and such things happen. The film talks about how things changed and how the landscape changed from mills to malls and skyscrapers. There were so many hands in the pie. This is our way of revisiting the city’s most defining moments.
John: The reason this film will impact people is that it makes references to incidents that they have lived or been a part of, in some way. I remember, Balasaheb Thackeray, during a speech, had spoken about why the future generations will call this city Mumbai. It has happened, right? We have made a reference to that in the film. Mumbai Saga impacts you because it tells you why and how Bombay made way for Mumbai, in an entertaining manner.
At a time when the industry is still uncertain about releasing big-ticket films in theatres, with this film, you guys have paved the way for more films to opt for a theatrical run...
John: Whether you see it as a first-mover advantage or in any other way, we decided to have a theatrical release because this film deserves to be seen on the big screen. A lot of actors are always worried about their filmography in terms of box office and how it will look eventually. I would say we are gutsy as a team to release our film in theatres. Yes, we’re aware that Coronavirus cases are on the rise again. We don’t know what is going to happen in the next 24 hours, but we decided to release the film where it deserves to be seen. Emraan saw the movie before me, and he told me that, ‘John, this should go to the big screen.’ I don’t see it any other way either. It has heroism that people are missing. I would urge people to be responsible when they visit cinemas, but they should watch this film on a big screen. Today, we’re not worried even if we do take a hit. We understand that things won’t suddenly go back to what they were in 2019. We’ve gone past the stage of worrying about box office numbers. It’s important to bring the audience back.
Emraan: I think the entire team, including producer Bhushan Kumar and Sanjay, should be applauded for being brave and making such a strong decision. We could have taken the easy route out. We had the option of releasing the movie directly on an OTT platform, but we feel responsible for this film as it was designed to be a big-screen experience. Putting it out on a small-screen platform will be a disservice to this film. Releasing it in theatres should get a trickle-effect. The fear will take a while to wear off. Even if the collections are not as great, it’s an initiative and should be seen for what it is. We don’t know what will happen eventually, but this film was waiting for a long time to see its audience in a theatre. So be it!
My character in Mumbai Saga in no way reflects the police force-Emraan Hashmi
8:37 AM
Discussing the depiction of cops on-screen amid rising instances of police brutality, Emraan Hashmi says his role in Mumbai Saga is work of fiction
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 15, 2021)
Emraan Hashmi is glad to be back in the groove following a year of uncertainty. With Mumbai Saga, he has the perfect potboiler for big screens that have been hit hard by the pandemic. “After watching the film three weeks ago, I told Gupta [Sanjay Gupta, director] that he has made the right move by opting for a theatrical release,” says the actor, who plays cop Savarkar to John Abraham’s gangster.
Actors are often skittish about featuring in two-hero projects. Hashmi had little reservations as the director and Abraham welcomed him with open arms. “I loved Kaante [2002], so working with Gupta was always on my bucket list. I’d be lying if I say actors don’t feel insecure, but the anxieties were put to rest on day one. They were warm and adopted an honest approach to what was on the page. Gupta allows his actors to interpret their characters, and doesn’t crowd you with his own thoughts.”
On the surface, Mumbai Saga may appear as a classic good-versus-evil story, but Hashmi insists that the director has explored the grey areas. “There are films that have good-hearted, righteous heroes, but I find them boring. People can’t be boxed so simplistically. Painting [characters] in broad strokes doesn’t allow them to mirror life. Also, one has to understand that for cops to clean up the streets, they have to bend the rules. Savarkar had to adhere to certain morality, but the situation back then [the early ’90s] was tough.”
The past year has brought multiple instances of police brutality to the fore. When asked about the uneven depiction of cops on screen, he clarifies, “I am an actor who abides by the director’s vision. At the end of the day, this is a film. If we think of so many variables, no movie will ever get made. It’s not possible to capture the cause-and-effect of every tiny detail. I hope people know this is a work of fiction. Savarkar, in no way, reflects the police force. There are bad cops and bad politicians in films and in real life, just as there are good cops and good politicians.”
You generally get labelled...you can’t really push the envelope too much-Emraan Hashmi
8:01 AM
Emraan Hashmi says his endeavour has always been to break the mould and surprise his audience
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 2, 2020)
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.
I'm not going to be apologetic if I’m part of a film family-Emraan Hashmi
8:34 AM
Emraan Hashmi says that despite the advantages, he had to prove himself and work his way up “from a supporting actor to a leading man”
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 8, 2020)
Describing the somewhat bleak times that the film industry is going through amid all the negative narratives, Emraan Hashmi calls it a “one of a kind” situation. The actor feels a lot of things are being “misconstrued”, and therefore “misunderstood”. He says, “I hope this would neither have a long term effect on Bollywood nor will it dent aspirations of those who want to join it.”
Reacting to the legal suit filed by film bodies and producers against a section of media for allegedly defaming reputation of Bollywood, Hashmi adds that it’s “because of a handful” that many are suffering in both media and entertainment industries.
He explains, “Breaking news is a very lucrative part of 24-hour news culture. Unfortunately, that breaking news has become more tabloid oriented. Celebrities and stories about them have always been a popular pick for prime time breaking news. It’s time that issues like the pandemic and the economy are given more coverage.”
Weighing in on the nepotism debate that has caught fire again, Hashmi has always maintained that it’s because of his uncle, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, that he got an entry into Bollywood. However, he is quick to label these never ending discussions as ridiculous. “I’m all for equal opportunities, which is only fair. But I’m not going to be apologetic if I’m a part of a film family. And if I want someone to carry my legacy forward, I would want my son to do it. Why would I give it to someone else?” reasons the actor.
So, does this mean the actor is alight if tomorrow his son, Ayaan, wants to become an actor? Hashmi says, “I would support Ayaan if he wants to join this industry. I’d tell him to care two hoots about who says what. He may have an entry point but he’ll have to work hard to prove himself.”
Hashmi also points out that it’s not like those who’re a part of film families don’t have to work hard to achieve their dreams. “I think it’s an uphill task for someone who’s a star son/daughter because it comes with huge responsibility and pressure. Also, in Bollywood, there are more actors who’ve come from outside and are successful,” he asserts.
Looking at this journey, while Hashmi admits he had a “certain access” yet, he says it has been “a bumpy ride”. He says, “That access came as a huge responsibility because I wasn’t anyone’s son, no one was putting money on me as a leading man. In my first opportunity, I got to play a supporting role and it was made clear that I’ve to prove my credentials to move forward. And I had to work my way up from a supporting actor to a leading man.”
Hashmi understands that it’s not enough if one is just a good actor. “You need to have commercial success, too. Thankfully, for me, Murder and some more films worked. But I had my share of failures too. It’s all about journey,” concludes the actor.
I wasn’t worried about going back to work, but it does play on your mind-Emraan Hashmi
7:53 AM
Though the actor resumed work recently, he says that one has to be on guard at all times as we are at a stage where the spread of the virus can easily escalate
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 9, 2020)
After a lot of planning and precautionary measures in place, the team of Mumbai Saga rebooted the shoot of the film with a song sequence last week. During the lockdown, Emraan Hashmi, one of the film’s leading men, had spoken about how the Coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of people all over. The actor, who has now stepped out to work and shot for a few days, shares his thoughts with BT about getting accustomed to the new normal, which includes smaller crews, people sporting PPE suits, masks and face shields, using sanitiser frequently and maintaining social distance.
“My family was a bit concerned when I told them about going back to shoot. I wasn’t as worried, but of course, it all plays on your mind as you can’t compartmentalise things. It is a situation that we have not tackled before. We are just about stepping back into our work space again after a gap of over six months. If you get too complacent, you could mess up everything, and if you are on guard and take the necessary precautions, you can go a long way,” Emraan says.
Talking about getting back on the sets, Emraan Hashmi says, “After work, I return to a family that includes elders. I don’t want to contract something and pass it on to any of them. We are all taking baby steps to adjust to the new normal. As time goes by, we will learn more and find out ways to get around things. The sense that I get when I step out or interact with people is that they are either paranoid or completely carefree as if the infection has vanished. People walk on the streets without masks like the pandemic never happened, and that is alarming and a bit concerning. We’re at a stage where things might escalate easily.”
When asked about the safety measures he followed when he was at work, Emraan says, “I had the mask on and my sanitiser handy at all times. Once, it so happened that I touched my face while I was on the set without the mask. We invariably tend to do that, and I got so scared. In seconds, I felt like, ‘What did I just do!’ These are habits that we have picked up, but now we have to be careful and take care of ourselves if we want to protect others who matter to us. I remember when the lockdown was easing out, and I saw people with masks, it had such an apocalyptic feel to it as if I was in a sci-fi film.”
Mumbai Saga had rolled out a year ago, in the pre-pandemic era. Remind Emraan about it, and he says, “I am glad that John (Abraham) and I don’t have action scenes left to be filmed. If we were shooting those now, we would have been breathing in each other’s faces, and that would have complicated things. Thankfully, what we have shot, and are left to shoot, are scenes where we can maintain ample social distance. In fact, John has an action scene, but it’s being shot with absolute precaution.”
I went completely unrecognised on Mumbai’s streets-Emraan Hashmi
7:54 AM
Emraan Hashmi's Indo-American production is the only Indian film in the main competition of the upcoming Busan Film Festival
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 17, 2020)
How did you manage to keep your Indo-American production, Harami, under wraps despite it being shot in Mumbai?
We didn’t want much fuss around the shoot because we were filming guerilla-style in places like CST and Churchgate stations, the Dharavi slums, and on Mumbai streets…
You were filming at CST and Churchgate stations?
I couldn’t, but I did shoot in the crowded Mohammed Ali Road area. And since we didn’t want to attract any attention, I was told I’d have to cover the last 300-400 metres on a bike. Despite the security, I was apprehensive, but delighted that I went completely unrecognised on Mumbai’s streets in my ‘look’ of a 50-year-old man with salt-and-pepper hair, beard and moustache, glasses, and a cane since he walks with a limp. After that, I’d stroll to the location, with my staff 20 steps behind. It was a thrill because when we shot in Dongri for Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, the whole area was cordoned off, with a car parked on the doorstep of the house where we were shooting to whisk me off. This time I could move around freely because Sagar Bhai looked nothing like Emraan. I’ve never played a character this old before.
Your character is a gangster?
He is a former English teacher who does a U-turn to become the ringleader of a gang of young pickpockets who frequent Mumbai locals. So, while everyone around him speaks Bambaiya Hindi, Sagar Bhai chooses to speak in English because he’s tutoring these slum kids in the language too, so they can hoodwink unsuspecting foreign tourists and flick their wallets. It’s heartening that our film will be unveiled at the Busan Film Festival in a tough year. We had wanted to go to Cannes, but Covid-19 complicated things. Busan is very prestigious too.
Having faced censor problems with Why Cheat India earlier, will a title like Harami get passed?
This title is not against the country and the English translation of ‘harami’, which is ‘bastard’, is filed in the Oxford dictionary. I just hope it isn’t misconstrued as a cuss word. We haven’t titled the film Harami for effect; it’s an appropriate title given the subject.
Tigers, the 2014 drama by Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic, didn’t perform as well as was expected…
That was a controversial subject with a Pakistani protagonist. By the time the film was ready for release, after a few delays, tensions between India and Pakistan had escalated and the film was blasphemous. No distributor would touch it. Thankfully today, Tigers is among the top 5 OTT films. Every film has its own journey.
As an actor, how difficult is it to strike a balance between a Harami and a Mumbai Saga?
I’ve always been a sucker for good content and cinema is all about stories. So, while I’d love to do another connoisseur film, I also want to do a Jannat 3. None of us know what will be accepted; we can only be true to the idea, work hard and with honesty. It’s important for an actor not to get stuck because commercial success can bring complacency.
Mumbai Saga is in the space of Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai, unabashedly commercial and entertaining, playing to the gallery and looking for ceeties and taalis. That kind of cinema will always be my first love.
And Chehre?
That’s a very different film. I’m playing a traveller whose car breaks down and he takes refuge for the night at an outhouse where two men, one pretending to be a public prosecutor and the other a defense lawyer, put him on the dock in their mock courtroom because “behind every successful man is a crime”. It was always my dream to work with Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan, so the script narration was just a formality. It was the same with The Body. I was intrigued by the original Spanish film, but there was also the delight of working with Rishi ji (Kapoor).
Buzz is, you are playing Alia Bhatt’s husband in Gangubai Kathiawadi who sells her into a brothel?
I’ve met Sanjay sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) but I haven’t signed the film yet. (Laughs) And it would be bizarre to play my cousin’s husband on screen.
You’re doing a comedy too…
Yes, Sab First Class Hai, which will be directed by Mubarakan and Saand Ki Aankh writer Balwinder Singh Janjua. The script is a riot.
Are you planning on resuming shooting soon?
I can’t sit at home forever as the Coronavirus isn’t going away anytime soon. People are getting reinfected, so even if a vaccine happens, we’ll have to top it up, again and again. We are the most exposed because of our proximity to our co-stars and since we can’t wear masks and PPE suits. Still, I plan to complete Mumbai Saga, Chehre and the horror film Ezra before the year-end before starting new projects next year. It will be shoot, quarantine, shoot…
After the lockdown, we will step out of our homes as different people-Emraan Hashmi
8:32 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 31, 2020)
Though it took Emraan Hashmi some time to adapt to life in the Coronavirus lockdown, eventually, he learnt to make the most of the time on hand. “Now, my timetable is such that I fall short of time to do the things that I want to,” he shares. In a conversation with BT, the actor talks about how he has accepted this as the ‘new normal’ and how the ongoing crisis is going to change the world around us. Excerpts:
As an actor, who is used to a busy schedule, how did you deal with this sudden change due to the lockdown?
It’s human nature to not accept confinement easily, as we’re not used to it. It took me some time to get used to this and realise that this could be the new normal for a long time. If you don’t fight it, it becomes more palatable, and you find things to do even during a lockdown, which are constructive.
How did the lockdown affect your work life?
Before the lockdown, I was working on Chehre with Amitabh Bachchan. I had also done a cameo in an English film, which was supposed to be screened at film festivals, but it went into a tizzy. At this point, Mumbai Saga and Chehre would have been gearing up for release, but that’s again up in the air now. I was also prepping for two other films. As an actor, one does feel a little more insulated than let’s say, the producers, who’ve put their money on films that are still being shot with sets still up. However, we’re paying a smaller price than those out on the streets with nowhere to go.
Do you think everyone’s approach towards life will change in days, post the lockdown?
After the lockdown, we will step out of our homes as different people. A catastrophe of any kind changes people. My father is 74, and he has not witnessed something like this in his lifetime. It would be foolish to think that things will go back to the way they were. You won’t even know how this crisis has changed you. I feel that the sense of community has grown immensely, and people are reaching out to each other. I’ve reconnected with some friends after many years. In cinema, I think our narratives will change, because the taste of the audience will differ. Frivolity may not work. The world will see things as before and after coronavirus. The divide will be that huge.
As a child, I wouldn’t eat till Sholay or Mr Natwarlal played-Emraan Hashmi
8:47 AM
Emraan Hashmi on working with Amitabh Bachchan in a thriller and playing a uniformed cop for the first time with a period gangster-drama
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 31, 2020)
In February, director Sanjay Gupta had tweeted that everyone in his Mumbai Saga team was anxious, wondering if Emraan Hashmi would be able to pull off the look of a deadly cop. “Just look with what style he has pulled it off,” the filmmaker had continued, unveiling the actor’s first look from the upcoming period gangster-drama, which he is also producing with Bhushan Kumar.Emraan informs that he was blown away by his character during the narration. “I played an undercover cop six years ago in Ungli (Rensil D’Silva’s 2014 vigilante film) but had never played a uniformed cop before. This guy is ruthless and opinionated. He is no less than a gangster himself,” he informs.
The actor, who had earlier featured in Milan Luthria’s gangster-drama, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, admits there have been few good films in the genre. “After it released, I got many offers in the same space, but I didn’t accept any of them because I needed a director who had the skills to narrate an interesting tale and revive the genre,” he avers.
Mumbai Saga was in its last leg of shooting when an industry-wide shutdown was announced in mid-March after the coronavirus outbreak intensified. Emraan has completed his portions and the last schedule was with John Abraham, who plays a gangster in the film. Prod him on his co-star, and Emraan describes John as a “helpful, professional who is dedicated to his craft”.
Meanwhile, the 41-year-old actor is also awaiting the release of Rumi Jaffery’s Chehre, a mystery-thriller revolving around a group of friends, some of whom are retired lawyers, one of them being Amitabh Bachchan. They meet at a bungalow in Shimla and play a psychological game, with Emraan in the role of a business tycoon. “I agreed to be a part of the film on the basis of Rumi ji’s two-hour narration. Usually I ask for a day or two to read the script, but this one ticked a lot of boxes,” shares the actor, adding that it was his dream to work with the Big B. “I’m a fan and as a child, after returning from school, I would not sit down to eat unless Sholay or Mr Natwarlal played. That’s the kind of connect I have with his films since I was seven or eight. So, working with Mr Bachchan in a film was a surreal experience. He is constantly reinventing himself. To have someone with his kind of experience on the set and observing him, helped me evolve as an actor too.”
We all need a backup plan in life-Emraan Hashmi
8:25 AM
Actor Emraan Hashmi on his journey in Bollywood, and what his son taught him about life
Suman Sharma (TIMES LIFE; March 29, 2020)
Looking back, do you have any regrets?
I’m proud of whatever I have done. I don’t have any regrets. What I’m today is because of certain films. I gained from that kind of cinema. There are many films, which you feel were not made for you or were not made as they should have been made. But that’s a learning process. How will you grow if you do not make mistakes? You have to do justice to whatever comes your way.
Given the competition around, do you feel insecure as an actor?
I don’t feel insecure ever because the industry is a big place. It always welcomes talent. Today, so many new avenues have opened up. All kinds of films are being made. The medium doesn’t matter. What matters is talent. If you have talent, you’ll get opportunities. There’s work for all. In fact, we should learn from the newcomers. They bring in fresh ideas.
What do newcomers have today that you did not possess when you began?
The current generation has got more exposure. What my son, Ayaan, grasps from watching films is much more than what I did as a youngster. He has access to the OTT platforms, YouTube, social media... I was born in the ’80s, when there was only one channel, Doordarshan. We absorbed whatever we could from it. Satellite TV came in later. When youngsters are exposed to so much stimulation, they are bound to create wonders.
Is it frustrating to wait for a good script to come your way?
There’s no frustration as such. You just have to keep on working, putting in efforts to enhance a film. Slowly, you’ll start getting the films to your liking. The more you learn; the more your acting will improve. I never felt frustrated. My films could be hits or flops, the industry always gave me work. I didn’t have to sit at home. Also, I can make the films I want through my production house.
Turning point in your career...
Every film is a turning point. The route is never linear. You can never predict your next Friday. Personally, the birth of my son was a turning point for me.
How have you changed as a person over the years?
As a person, I’m the same as I was 10 years ago. But you develop a world view. You evolve as a human being. My perception has changed towards people, towards films… It’s difficult to put it in words. You change along the course of your profession. You change after marriage, after parenthood. When you experience the death of a close one, you change. Experiences surely change you.
Has the way you look at life also changed after Ayaan’s fight with cancer?
Yes. Earlier, I thought too much about the future. But all that has changed now. Today, I’m satisfied with what I have. I live in today. I experience every moment and try to live it fully. My attitude is to take one day at a time, to behave responsibly and with discipline. Parenthood has taught me responsibility. As teenagers, we lack balance. At 20, I used to run away from responsibility. You turn accountable when you marry, and more so, when you become a parent.
Which of your films does Ayaan enjoy?
He has not seen any of my films. I don’t wish to show them to him. (Laughs) All my films are censored as he’s just 9 years old. Ayaan wants to become an actor. The atmosphere around him is such... but for now, he has to study, enjoy life and experience it. When he turns 20, he will understand things better. Most probably, cinema will be different then. He may even change his mind. But yes, he has to keep a back-up plan ready. Life is unpredictable here. I did not have a back-up plan. That’s a terrifying thought. Thankfully, things turned out good for me.
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