Mumbai: After a few reserved performances in Ghanchakkar and Ek Thi Dayan, you are back in your original avatar with Raja Natwarlal. In fact, I had asked Siddharth Roy Kapur to incorporate a few kissing scenes in the film. I wanted to go out of my way to give the audiences the over-the-top Emraan Hashmi that they’ve been watching for a decade, but took a break from. I know my last two films didn’t do very well at the box office. Unfortunately, our industry is driven by box office figures and not every hit film is a good film.
There was a time when actresses were skeptical of sharing screen space with you, thanks to your onscreen image. Has that changed?
Women still get cold feet when they’re with me. Most actresses come with pre-conceived notions of me being lecherous or flirtatious. I take that as a compliment. I’ve worked very hard at creating the bad boy image that the masses love.
Do you think that image backfired when you tried your hand at offbeat cinema?
The problem is that the audience wants me to behave cheaply on screen. Instead of shying away from it, I decided to capitalise on my image. I want to retain that image because I’ve earned success and money only because of that image. There are romantic heroes, there are action heroes and then there is me.
Your cousin Alia (Bhatt) has been following your footsteps of being a serial kisser. Does that bother you?
Not at all! We’re actors and our on screen image is a farce. I don’t think one should draw comparisons. Besides, Alia isn’t a serial kisser yet. She has to continue kissing on screen for 10 years to become Emraan Hashmi. But I’m glad she is following suit!
Most of your films have a bold and sexual tone. Has your son managed to watch any of your films?
I don’t think I can show any of my films to my son. There are way too many kisses in my films and I don’t think he’d like the idea of his father romancing anyone else. I have to deal with my wife who continues to have issues with my tarnished onscreen image. Unfortunately, she can’t do much about it.
Is the title of your film Raja Natwarlal inspired by Amitabh Bachchan’s cult film Natwarlal?
Not at all. Please don’t draw any comparisons between the two.
