Mumbai: He isn’t your regular hero and the snooty lot of the film industry does little to acknowledge his success. But when it comes to box-office performance and critics’ verdict, Emraan Hashmi is far from ignored. Yet, the actor chooses not to join the bandwagon of commercial stardom.
Seated on a couch in his muted living room, Hashmi, with apparent cynicism, talks about his devil-may-care attitude towards mainstream cinema. “I find the plots of such films very substandard; I know many would say the same about my films. But I grew up watching different—more western—cinema; the Khans or other Bollywood stars have never been my reference point. So I do films that they probably never will.”
His next is Raaz—The Mystery Continues, is a horror flick, and again, an off-beat genre. Hashmi plays the character of a painter who can predict future through his art. Through one of his works he is able to foresee that Nandita (Kangana Ranaut) will be possessed by the unnatural. “Rohit is aware of his powers but can do little to control things. It’s like Spiderman—it’s his gift, it’s his curse,” explains the actor who has a penchant for dark, reclusive characters.
“I was very excited when Mohit (Suri, director) offered me the film. Horror’s my favourite genre,” he says and lets out a smile. He accepts that horror is risky business and that Bollywood has little to boast of in that category but Hashmi trusts his director’s sensibilities.
The film is the union of his clique—director friend Suri, the Bhatts as producers and his co-star Kangana Ranaut. “It takes a great team to make a good film. I have a lot to thank the Bhatts for; they’re the ones who launched me,” says the reticent actor. Talking about his co-star, he acknowledges the chemistry they bring on. “Like me, she does mad characters.”
The film is slated to release mid-January but the music is already topping the charts, especially the track Mahi. And the industry is abuzz with murmurs that it’s Hashmi’s lucky charm that’s worked again.
But the actor laughs it off and gives the technicians the due credit. “I’ve been fortunate that all my films have had at least a track or two that were chartbusters but the music directors and sound guys should be complimented for that.”
Hashmi, however, does not deny his belief in superstitions. “I added an extra ‘a’ to my name and since then things have been good.” The entrance of his house bears a huge Turkish evil eye and other Feng Shui charms. “I don’t do anything on dates that add up to eight. I’m that insane,” he laughs.
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