Hard Work Trumps Chasing Social Media Visibility: Emraan Hashmi

Emraan Hashmi says if there’s one thing that’s changed during his two-decade-long career, it’s his sense of discipline.

“I have become boringly disciplined in the last five years, so much so that even my wife keeps telling me to stop it. I have started going to bed at 10 p.m, which I never did before. I work out and take other measures for a mindful lifestyle. I never functioned like this,” he says with a laugh.

Despite his icon-like status amongst fans, including Gen Z, the actor says he has never been one to buy space for visibility. “I don’t understand social media or how to orchestrate things. I am wary of broadcasting stuff about my life as I think it stems from insecurity. I believe in just working hard, there is longevity in that.”

This sense of security allows him to consistently defy labels. After winning accolades for his performance as the rigid lawyer-husband in Haq, the actor now steps into the shoes of an upright and brave customs officer in Netflix’s "Taskaree" directed by Neeraj Pandey.

Neeraj, who helmed A Wednesday, says Emraan was his first and only choice for the role. It is their first collaboration.

A fan of the thriller genre, Emraan says he was instantly hooked. “Neeraj is a master of thrillers. It is very difficult to surprise audiences, who are usually ahead of the curve. This show has surprises and several cliffhangers. Also, the fact that this is perhaps the first show on a customs officer - we have had films and shows on different law enforcement bodies but never on the customs department - really intrigued me.”

Emraan, who is synonymous with chart-busting songs, joked that his demand for a song in every episode nearly cost him the project. “The background score is excellent, and Neeraj has made a family show with me, which is also commendable,” he adds, referencing his serial-kisser reputation of the past.

With four films lined up, including the sequel to his 2007 hit Awarapan and the Telugu film G2, the actor takes a pragmatic view of the industry’s box office struggles.

“It’s a little trickier with theatre right now. Films that succeed are event films, and they come once in a while. When you look at the theatre business over the years, there is confusion. OTT, on the other hand, is pushing boundaries with cutting-edge experimentation. Theatre has been my first love and a major part of my life for almost 18 years, but you have to move with changing times. A major part of the audience prefers watching content in their comfort zone. The ecosystem has become vast and you have to find a way around that.”