Quick Take: Emraan Hashmi

Emraan Hashmi's interesting debut in Footpath gave him a head start in the world of Bollywood. The actor now has Jawani Diwani by Manish Sharma and Gangster by Anurag Basu on the verge of release.

Were your initial days in the industry difficult since you hail from the Bhatt camp?
It wasn't exactly difficult. If it weren't for Mahesh Bhatt, I would have never become an actor. He has inspired me to act and boosted my career.

What would you have become if not an actor?
I would've certainly been a technician in films. I loved working behind the scenes. Acting in films never fascinated me. In the beginning, I signed movies purely for money and fame and there was no creative satisfaction. Acting was a painful experience for me. Slowly and steadily, I started enjoying it.

What is your role in Jawani Diwani and Gangster?
In Jawani Diwani, I play the role of a 26-year-old boy Mann Kapoor who is a struggling singer. There are two women in his life. It is a comedy with an urbane touch to it. And the music is brilliant. In Gangster, my role is more sober and serious. I play a very decent character. My roles in both these films are very different from each other.

What do you have to say about your serial kisser image in films?
Please do not categorise me. It's just a performance. There is a lot of romance that is being portrayed in films these days. So intimacy becomes the core issue.

Which are your forthcoming films?
I have two more films on hand. The first is Killer and the next is Bablu Pachisia's Jhamela being directed by Manish Sharma again. I have also signed two of Subhash Ghai's forthcoming ventures.