It’s important for an actor to venture out and do something new: Emraan Hashmi

He has been on the wrong side of the law, albeit strictly on-screen, umpteen times. Remember films such as Awarapan, Jannat or Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, among others? Although audiences loved Emraan Hashmi in his criminal/ gangster parts, the actor refuses to look at it as his “comfort zone.” “You would think that this is my comfort zone as I have played such characters several times. But after those parts, I always wanted to try my hand and experiment with different kind of roles, which is essential for any actor,” he says. And the actor says he’s “thrilled” that filmmaker Sanjay Gupta offered him the part of a cop in his next, Mumbai Saga. But there was an interesting twist. As the actor puts it, “No one would imagine that I am playing a cop but the way this policeman functions, he is almost like a gangster. Regardless of fair or unfair means, he will bring down the guy he is going for. So, in a way, it was kind of home turf ( smiles) for me. But it’s a very entertaining pitch for a character in a pure Sanjay Gupta style. Be it the machismo, the testosteronedriven scenes, the tonality of the film or the action sequences, I may have done such things earlier but surely not this way. In this film, I think there’s all of that, on steroids ( laughs). It’s like taking it all to the next level.”

Personally too, Emraan is happy to have stepped into a “totally new world”. “I have always been on the opposite side of law. I had never even worn the uniform [on screen]. But now, I play a cop, which is great because physically as well as visually, neither audiences nor I had ever pictured myself in this kind of a space. I feel success or no success, it is very important for an actor to venture out and do something new. If nothing else, you, of course, have your home territory,” he says.

At the same time, the actor says it’s “an absolute joy” to work with Gupta. “I’ve been a big fan of his filmmaking for the longest time, so I was always keen to work with him. I am glad this film worked out. Sanjay is so clear about the way he wants to bring forth the narrative to the audiences. He wants to do things in a very entertaining style, please the audience and give them a great time in theatres. I admire that about him,” he concludes.

I play a cop, which is great because physically as well as visually, neither audiences nor I had ever pictured myself in this kind of a space. EMRAAN HASHMI ACTOR