Tigers is a film by Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic (whose film No Man’s Land defeated Lagaan at the Academy Awards) and stars Emraan Hashmi in a leading role. The film narrates the true story of a multinational pharmaceutical company in Pakistan and how one salesman dared to protest against their malpractices, which resulted in the death of thousands of babies. The first thing that struck me is how Danis ensured that Tigers would seem like a typical Hindi film. In fact, many would feel that the film is made by an Indian considering the execution and narrative structure. It’s just 90 minutes long and keeps one hooked from start to finish. The manner in which the baby products lead to severe health hazards in the babies is quite moving. The film in a way also gives an ode to activists like Syed Amir Raza Hussain and their families who fearlessly took on these powerful corporations just because it was the right thing to do. On the flipside, the impact gets diluted a bit in the second half. A few developments are sudden and the ending is abrupt. The plusses thankfully outweigh the minuses. Emraan Hashmi delivers an exceptional performance and after Shanghai, he proves yet again that he can excel both in commercial as well as arthouse cinema. Geetanjali Thapa is lovely and lends able support. Satyadeep Misra has a crucial part and is damn good. Vinod Nagpal gives a fine performance while Adil Hussain plays the negative part very well. Maryam d'Abo has an interesting part and gives a decent performance. Tigers was released on the OTT platform Zee5 on November 21 and surely deserves a watch!

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

The actor on his debut production, fallouts and plagiarism charges
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 21, 2017)

Your first production, Captain Nawab, is reportedly based on a real army captain. When biopics are upsetting families and fringe groups, aren’t you worried about the journey ahead?
It’s not really a biopic but inspired by a true event with excerpts taken from this person’s experience in Pakistan. It’s the story of a new army recruit who crossed the border. He was in Pakistan for a considerable time and it’s about how he’s stuck between both countries with them questioning him. We aren’t saying it’s a particular person’s life, there’s a book which is a source of inspiration. But a lot from it has been edited and some bits added to the script.

We have Kamaal R Khan on tape saying he’s a consultant on the project and advisor on the script...
That’s not true. He’s in no way associated with the film, either creatively or financially. The best source of advice would be the army as we’re trying to be as true to the book as possible with respect to the captain’s life and how the army functions. Once the script is done, preliminary training will begin.

Given that you refer to KRK as Kamaal bhai on Twitter and he refers to your co-producer and director Tony D’souza as a friend, what is the equation with him?
I don’t know the dynamics of Tony’s equation with him, they must be friends, but I’m the producer and I know the inner workings of the film. No advice has been taken from him, he is not part of Captain Nawab.

We were told Tony and you are the producers but KRK claimed Zee is also onboard. Any other producers?
(Testily) I can message you or Tony can give you details about who all are involved and in what capacity.

The film’s first poster was strikingly similar to the Call On Duty: Black Ops video game’s; you came in for some criticism. How did you get caught in a plagiarism charge?
I reacted on Twitter after the poster was out. I don’t think there is a copyright on a picture of someone sitting with two guns in their hand. We didn’t take the trolling seriously but did say that the similarity starts and ends there. They failed to notice the concept of India on one side and Pakistan on the other and criticised us for only one aspect. We moved on. That wasn’t the main poster anyway, it was just an announcement. The new artwork will be different.


Your leading ladies of late have mostly been newcomers. Will Captain Nawab have an A-lister?
The script will be ready in the next couple of weeks after which we’ll get into casting. Whether it’s a newcomer or an established actress depends on the script, what the director and the writer feel.

You’d said you wouldn’t go beyond part three of a franchise, then went on to do Raaz Reboot (right). Will we see you in the next instalment of Raaz too?
I don’t see myself doing another Raaz.

There were rumours of a fallout with Vikram Bhatt just before the release of Raaz Reboot.
There is no fallout with Vikram.

So will Vikram and you collaborate on Murder 4 as you’d announced to Mirror earlier?
No more Raaz and Murders. For me Murder concluded with Part 2 long ago. I was not part of Murder 3. Even with Raaz it concluded with Raaz Reboot.

Buzz is, there’s been a fallout with Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt too over remuneration.
This question always pops up when they announce a film we’re not doing together. There’s no fallout. A story idea could bring us together but there is nothing at the moment.

Your international debut, Tigers, didn’t get you the desired exposure in the West and is finally releasing in Japan. When will it come to India?
The film is a gem, relevant to our times and Danis Tanovic is a fab director. I’m happy it’s releasing in a couple of international territories. Only the producer can tell you why the release has taken so long and when it’ll come to India. We’ve gone to four festivals, I’m happy it’s being noticed.

Your book, The Kiss Of Life—How A Superhero & My Son Defeated Cancer, is a bestseller. Will their be a next one?
That was a personal journey which impacted me four years ago which is why I wrote it. I’m not ruling out the option of another. Maybe in a couple of years if there’s something I want to pen down...

DNA (July 18, 2015)

Emraan Hashmi’s international film, Danis Tanovic’s Tigers has been stuck. Though the film got a thunderous response from the audience across film festivals, Tigers is yet to have a release date in India. But Emraan is hopeful that the film will soon see the light of the day. “It is a very relevant story about something that everyone will connect with. It should be able to release as it’s important that people watch the film. This, especially is the perfect time to release as the film exposes the wrongdoings of an international food corporation. We are trying to work on the release date as it is stuck with the producers. They should release it soon.”

Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; February 12, 2015)

If the grapevine is to be believed, Emraan Hashmi will have to wait longer for the India release of his maiden international project, Tigers. Helmed by Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic, the Indo-French-British film is slated to hit the theatres here next month.

However, an alleged tussle among the co-producers threatens to push the release date ahead. A source says, “The three producers have been fighting over the rights of the film. Besides, the issue of sharing the revenue generated is a major bone of contention among them. The film is supposed to release in India on March 6, but with the ongoing fight, it looks a little difficult.”

The film has been jointly produced by two Indian companies, Cinemorphic and Sikhya Entertainment, and a French company called ASAP Films. The source adds that the dispute has upset Tanovic, who recently took to social media to express anger. “However, he deleted the posts later,” says the source.

The film, which is inspired by a real-life incident in Pakistan, was showcased at Toronto Film Festival last year and was well received. Emraan, too, was appreciated for his character as Ayan, a salesman who works for a multinational that manufactures baby formula in Pakistan and acts as a whistle- blower when he finds out that the formula can cause fatal diarrhoea when mixed with polluted water.

Guneet Monga, founder of Sikhya Entertainment, remained unavailable for comment while Tanovic did not reply to our queries.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; February 4, 2015)

Mallika Sherawat’s upcoming film, Dirty Politics, which is apparently inspired by the Bhanwri Devi murder case, has been pushed ahead by three weeks. Reason? Film promotions. The film, which was supposed to release on February 13, will now release on March 6. Director K C Bokadia says, “We want to create a hype around the film. The crew unanimously decided that releasing the film in a jiffy without proper promotions is a bad idea. Moreover, we didn’t want to clash with Badlapur and Roy.” Sources reveal that Mallika too wanted a new release date and will now shoot another song for the film.

Bokadia says, “The film has a political backdrop and we plan to release it during the long Holi weekend. That way, we think that it will do better business in the North. It will take a few days for us to shoot the added song and then we will promote the project.” Ask him if he ready to clash with three films — NH10, Bank Chor and Tigers — and he says, “As of now there is no confirmation of the other films releasing on the same day. Also, now that we have chosen the date, we will stick to it no matter what.”

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 12, 2015)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 6, 2014)

Emraan Hashmi talks about an image makeover and his international debut
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 12, 2014)

He's just back from Toronto, where his first international project, Danis Tanovic's Tigers, premiered. This was the first time he'd been to an international fest with a film and Emraan Hashmi admits that he was anxious about the audience's verdict.

The film is the true story of Pakistani whistleblower Aamir Raza, who exposes an MNC whose baby formula caused multiple infant deaths there. The character and performance are far removed from the niche Emraan has created in B'wood. But the story resonated with him because when he read the script, his son, Ayan, was two and conversations at home often revolved around breast feeding and infant food.

"I didn't know till then that through hospitals, MNCs were forcing formula food on parents as an alternative to mother's milk. And this, when mixed with contaminated water, was responsible for millions of deaths," he points out, hoping this dramatic thriller with a message, will bring some changes, at least a decade from now.

Emraan's son, Ayan, was undergoing treatment for a tumour. How is he now? "He's doing well," he says.

Tigers was screened for Aamir Raza, who following death threats relocated to Toronto and is now a cab driver. And it became an emotional moment for both. "I'd spoken to Aamir once over the phone. I'd have met him too but Danis was in a hurry. He had met Aamir and guided me through my character's journey. So, I met Aamir for the first time at that screening and am glad the film moved him to tears,"says Emraan. On a lighter note, he admits that though Danish had seen Shanghai and The Dirty Picture, he's glad the Oscar winning director of No Man's Land, met him in person. "The indecency he saw on screen would never have fetched me this role," he laughs, admitting that despite the urbane characters he plays, he is a simple guy who wants to keep it real while most actors over-dramatise their lines and life.

However, after Raja Natwarlal failed to make expected box-office figures, he has realised that his ''hit" screen image may have reached its saturation point. "Over the next two years, with films like Tigers, Mr X and my first true love story Hamari Adhuri Kahani, I'll try to re-invent myself," he admits.

Ungli is also coming up in December. Emraan is yet to see the final cut but is glad the film is finally seeing the light of day after being plagued by multiple delays. "Even Tigers was to kickstart in 2006 but was stalled because producers and financiers were afraid that the contentious issue would leave them open to litigations," he says.

The film blows the lid of an MNC and Emraan acknowledges it could still rub people the wrong way, even upset his fans in Pakistan. "But it is not maligning a particular country or company. It's just so happened that Aamir was from Pakistan," he reasons.

Buzz is, Emraan has been thinking about getting into production too. "Not till I finish these commitments," he interrupts. Will he invest in a film like Tigers? "Why not? But I will continue to make masala movies. Today, everyone's talking about Rs100, Rs 200-crore films. I don't think the box-office is the only benchmark for success. But commercial popularity helps boost the other kind of cinema too," he argues.

His uncles, Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt, were upset with him for giving precedence to an outside banner (Raja Natwarlal) over a home production (Mr X), pointing out that he owed his success to them. Emraan dismisses this jaded perception, saying he's given hits outside the home banner like Aksar, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and The Dirty Picture. "Yes, the first five years, forget being counted as a star, I wasn't even included in the list of actors. After that I was put on a pedestal. I'd still rather be an actor than a star even in the 'star' roles I play," he maintains.

He's also dismissive of awards, saying it's "laughable" that India has 40-plus annual awards and most go to popular films and actors who dance at these shows. "It's a business deal. I take the National Awards seriously but not these popular awards determined by box-office figures," he retorts.

But what if Tigers puts him in line for a Golden Globe or an Oscar, awards that Danis has won in the past? "It would get the film some traction and take the issue beyond the subcontinent. That's important as the problem we're talking about exists in Australia, Africa and the US too," he signs off.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 11, 2014)

Emraan Hashmi starer Tigers, directed by Oscar winning filmmaker Danis Tanovic, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Monday night. And the actor had a special visitor waiting for him.

Aamir Raza, the Pakistani whistle-blower whose life inspired the film, is currently residing in Canada and met the actor who plays him on screen. Aamir is the man who blew the lid on a powerful MNC whose baby food led to several infant deaths in Pakistan. But instead of being hailed as a hero, Raza got death threats and was forced to make a life outside of Pakistan. He left behind his white collar career and now makes his living as a cab driver in Toronto.

After the film's premier at TIFF, Hashmi met Aamir and his family, in what became an emotional moment for both. "For me, meeting Aamir was the biggest high. I am so glad he liked the film and my portrayal of him. He is the real tiger," Hashmi told Mirror. Aamir who saw the film with his family, which includes wife Shafqat, son Muhammad and daughter Armeen, told this newspaper, "Danis and his team have made a very powerful film. Emraan has done a brilliant job."

National Award-winning actress Geetanjali Thapa will be seen opposite Hashmi in Oscar-wining director Danis Tanovic's upcoming film
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 6, 2014)

Geetanjali Thapa, who won a National Award for her performance in last year's festival hit, Liar's Dice, was battling an anxiety attack when she was told by producer Guneet Monga that Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic was in town, looking for a leading lady for his upcoming film Tigers.

"I quickly watched all his movies to get a sense of how he functions," says the actress, who leaves this evening for the Toronto Film Festival where Tigers is having its world premiere on Sunday.

The actress reveals her costar, Emraan Hashmi, who took time out to be present for the auditions, helped her with her lines. "I was very nervous but he made it easy for me," she recalls.

The film is about an activist (played by Emraan) who blows the lid on a multinational company selling infant baby food. Geetanjali essays the role of his supportive wife.

"The first few days, I was really tense to be acting with Emraan and Supriya Pathak, but even if I blew my lines, they wouldn't make me feel like a newcomer. I thought being a star Emraan would throw tantrums but both, Danis and he were chilled out on the sets," she asserts.

She plays a Pakistani woman in the film. Coming from Sikkim, did her physical appearance create a hitch? "As long as I said my lines convincingly, they were okay," smiles Geetanjali, admitting that she has faced bias when auditioning for Bollywood films. "They say I don't look Indian enough. It's baffling but I don't fuss over it. If it's a good role, it will come to me," she is confident.

Many believed that an actress of North Eastern origin should have been cast in the role of Mary Kom which has now been essayed by Priyanka Chopra. Geetanjali retorts, "I wouldn't want to be cast just because I'm a North Eastern. Eventually, it's a big film and it makes sense to cast a top actress. There's nothing wrong in ensuring that your film is commercially viable."

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 1, 2014)

Emraan Hashmi in a tête- à- tête about his ‘family film’, twitter fights with uncle Mahesh Bhatt, facing criticism from non-filmy friends, and more
MID-DAY (August 25, 2014)

What do you mean when you say that Raja Natwarlal is a family film with kisses?
I called it that because we had group screenings for the film in five cities, we got some great feedback. These were groups of women in the 20-50 age group, which means that there was a fair number of college students and working women. After watching the film, they were like, ‘Oh, this is first Emraan Hashmi film that we wouldn’t mind watching with the family; we wouldn’t be ashamed to watch it.’ It’s a U/A certificate film and importantly, it will change the way you look at con films or thrillers. This film will get another audience because women can also watch it. It has an emotional context, a romantic angle. I call it a rom-con film.

Your Pakistani co-star, Humaima Malick, recently said that kissing scenes from the film would be edited out in Pakistan…
Yes, those 4- 5 scenes will be cut because Pakistan is conservative and it has its own set of rules. The first big release there was my film, Awaarapan, and it opened the doors to Pakistan for a lot of Hindi films. Jannat had released there as well, so Pakistan clearly loves Bollywood films. But yes, our films have to follow certain rules.

You are among the finest actors that we have. Do you think that your talent doesn’t get highlighted enough because of the kind of films you are doing and due to the kind of the questions (read: about kissing) that you are, more often than not, asked?
Well, calling me a good actor in the headline will not get you eyeballs but calling me a good kisser certainly seems to do so. Fortunately or unfortunately, in our country, kisses have that kind of value attached to them and it still amuses me. In fact, it has amused me right since the Murder days. Talk about kissing and everyone has a smile playing on his or her face. Go to a small town and ask about kissing, you will see how they turn red in their faces. I was the guy who kissed and didn’t really give two hoots about it. Then again, when you do a film like Murder, you cannot expect to it to be along the lines of a Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

You don’t attend too many Bollywood parties… are you not fond of them?
They are the most boring thing ever. I do what I like to do and that keeps my sanity alive. When I pack up from a film set, I hang out with my friends who are not from the industry. I don’t like to talk about films then.

Are your friends critical about your films?
Very! I don’t see films with them because they are very harsh with their criticism. Most of them are not from the industry and because they know me, they have their own judgement on how things should be. I am not naming this film of mine, but yes when they watched it, they said that it’s a terrible film and that it was the worst I had ever done.

What affects you more — bad reviews or the negative stories?
I don’t need bad reviews if I have friends like that. Like I said, they are very brutal and it’s the worst kind of criticism. But if you are an actor then you have to be open to it. As far as negative stories go, I don’t read the papers much these days and I don’t really see myself through other people’s eyes.

What about your Hollywood debut Tigers?
We are screening it in Toronto and I will be going for the premiere so we are looking forward to the reception it gets. It’s the story of a whistle blower; he’s a medical representative who hails from a poor family. He sold baby products for a living but didn’t realise early on that they contained contaminated water and that this, in turn, was causing a lot of baby deaths. So it’s the story about how he took on the big guys and later sought refuge in Toronto. He is also coming down for the premiere, so I will meet him there. It’s a controversial subject and the film features some shocking revelations, so I don’t know what’s going to happen when it is released. Then again, films are about freedom of speech, aren’t they?

Was your twitter scuffle with uncle Mahesh Bhatt a real fight or just a publicity stunt?
It was not a publicity stunt. Bhatt Sahab is a bit of a weird personality and I don’t blame people for thinking a certain way; I would have probably thought the same. This started three weeks ago; this fight happened because I upset the schedule of their film, Mr X, in order to make time for Raja Natwarlal’s promotions. Mr X is a 3D film and the foreign crew is scheduled to go back soon, so I need to finish shooting within a certain period of time or the film will go for a toss. I am shooting 19 hours a day and then promoting Raja Natwarlal.
These days, promoting a film is more important than shooting for it. On his part, Bhatt sahab was voicing his concern because I was trying to convince Vikram Bhatt to make some adjustments in the film’s schedule. The weird thing is that he didn’t contact me and chose to vent it out on twitter. As you can see, our family does wash dirty linen in public. I have still not spoken to him about this fight. I will do so when I meet him on the sets on the last day of Mr X’s shoot.

Did Akshay Kumar call you up when your son Ayaan was being treated in Canada?
Yes, he called me and even came home to meet Ayaan. He knew some people in Toronto and he offered help. A lot of other people called and offered help - from Sanju (Dutt) and John (Abraham) to Yuvraj Singh and Anupam Kher. Akshay continues to call and check on Ayaan every month and that is very sweet of him. Now Ayaan is fine and he is back to school.

Eepsita Guha (BOMBAY TIMES; August 23, 2014)