Papadom philosophy from Emraan Hashmi

The lesser known side of Emraan Hashmi— meet the family man.

How has fatherhood changed you?
It has made me more disciplined and responsible in a way. I am still not a hands-on father. I would want to give a lot more time to my son. When you have a child, it just changes the entire atmosphere at home, the way you look at things and your future. You have to become a role model in your own way.

How do you plan to become a real life role model for your child?
By just being the best father I can be; by giving him all my love. By giving him the right education and by opening up his mind to all options available to him when he reaches adulthood. Not force things down his throat. Just because I am an actor, I don’t want him to follow in my footsteps if he doesn’t want to. I would orchestrate things in his life so that he becomes a happy and successful human being when he grows up.

Does your son know what you do on-screen?
I am sure he will soon. He can’t talk right now. He makes up a few sentences. He can mumble “shooting” and I have taken him for a film shoot. I am sure once he starts talking fluently; it is the one question he will ask.

Are you dreading it?
I have been trying to find an answer to that question, but I have not found it as yet. 

Your films are often panned by critics, but loved by audiences. What is it that works for brand Emraan?
I really don’t know what works for me. I just do films I believe in. I have picked up subjects and over the years, a following in the audience. They probably relate to my characters. There is not just one thing that makes a film or my role click. The characters I play are not passive; they are go-getters. And the viewers can relate to them. I have managed to make the audience fall in love with the very people who were seen as villains till recently. Generally, villains don’t have much to do onscreen, but look menacing. I gave these bad boys a point of view and the audience empathised with them.

On one hand, everyone is talking about brand Emraan and on another, you do a movie where the female is the protagonist; doesn’t that affect your standing?
If I had started off being the traditional hero in films, then it probably would have been a jolt. I have played real characters throughout my career and started off playing a supporting character in Footpath. I found the supporting role more interesting, while the hero very boring. I found more conflict in them. I don’t know why most actors are looking out for personal motives to fulfill a macho image onscreen. 

You play complex characters in film after film, how do you keep it from affecting your personal life?
I am shooting for three films simultaneously. It is tough. But I can compartmentalise. Right now, I don’t have much time for my family; that is the price you pay. Sometimes, when my wife opens the door and my son, who is two-and-a-half-years old, gives me a look that he does not recognise me. He probably thinks I am the retail guy or a shopkeeper who’s come to deliver a parcel. My son watches me on television in songs and that’s the only recall he has.

You were once refused a flat because of your religion...
Ours is a mixed family of Muslims, Anglo-Indians, Christians and Hindus. For me, there has never been any discrimination on the basis of religion at home or outside. So, when I wanted to buy a place and there were problems due to my religion, I was appalled. After the incident, I actually started to question how we can claim to live in a secular country.

What’s your take on awards?
Awards used to matter in the beginning... Reward is what the audience gives me by buying tickets to watch my films. Their judging your film is more important to me.

You have done roles that many actors would have thought risky...
Whenever you choose a subject, you are very optimistic and hope it will do great business. Waking up on a Friday you do feel powerless as you know that ultimately it is in the hands of the audience. The fear that a film won’t work, a fear that your judgment could go wrong, are some apprehensions that you have to deal with.

Even after so many years in the industry?
You get greedy as you want your every film to be a hit. I pray every Friday morning as I get the jitters. It gets easier after 11 am when your producer calls you up to say that so many theatres are houseful.

All your films have an ‘A’ certificate, any forthcoming films that will have a different certification?
I don’t want the risk of kids turning up in the halls to see me, probably their parents would not want them to see me. The adults themselves would be confused as to why I am doing a kids’ film. I am not ready for it.

So, your son will have to wait for 16 years to watch your films? 
Yes, that’s true when he turns 18.