Emraan Hashmi found himself trapped in a fixed on-screen image for years , despite consistently attempting varied roles. Even as he explored different stories in films such as Jannat, Kalyug and Shanghai, the label refused to fade easily. Speaking to Hindustan Times, the actor looked back on his career and the long process of reshaping how audiences and critics viewed him.
Emraan believes that change did not come from a single role but from persistence. According to him, it was a steady journey that included films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Shanghai and Tigers. These projects, he said, slowly helped audiences see him beyond the familiar romantic mould. He acknowledged that critics often saw him as limited, but he does not view that judgment as unfair. Instead, it pushed him to prove that he could deliver strong performances when given the right director and material.
The actor was recently seen in Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds of Bollywood, where his self-aware and exaggerated appearance struck a chord with viewers, especially younger audiences. Emraan admitted that relevance becomes more challenging with age, as new viewers consume content differently. He noted that many Gen Z viewers may not have watched his films but recognise him through songs, reels and viral clips, which often spark curiosity to explore more of his work.
Interestingly, Emraan said he does not fully understand social media virality. He believes true popularity cannot be manufactured, comparing it to a chart-topping song that succeeds naturally through word of mouth. Now also seen in Netflix’s Taskaree, Emraan continues to adapt, allowing his work to speak for itself.
