Ahead of the release of his new show Taskaree, Emraan Hashmi has spoken about his evolving career and the changing nature of storytelling in Indian cinema. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the actor reflected on how his journey, spanning over 20 years, has largely been defined by characters that exist in shades of grey rather than clear-cut ideas of heroism or villainy.
In Taskaree, Emraan plays a customs official who operates in morally ambiguous territory, a space he seems comfortable inhabiting on screen. Looking back, the actor said this inclination was not a conscious choice but something that began with his debut film Footpath, where he portrayed a gangster with a softer side. Over time, such roles became a recurring theme. Emraan admitted that he finds strictly one-dimensional characters uninteresting and is naturally drawn to parts that offer emotional depth and contradictions.
According to him, grey characters feel more human and relatable, which makes them more engaging to play. He believes this approach to character-building has gained wider acceptance over the years, with audiences becoming more open to layered narratives.
Emraan also pointed out that the distinction between heroes and villains has gradually blurred across both films and digital content. He noted that over the last decade, storytelling has become more experimental, allowing characters to be written with greater nuance and complexity.
He credited OTT platforms, particularly global streamers like Netflix, for accelerating this shift. According to the actor, digital platforms proved that audiences are ready to embrace unconventional stories, encouraging creators to move beyond formula-driven cinema and focus on richer, character-driven narratives.
