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"I don't know why it gathers so much news when I kiss," he says. "It's not even at the back of my mind."
Last year may have been uneventful for Hashmi but the actor promises a good 2008. He talks to Swati R Chaudhary about his upcoming film, Jannat, Raaz 2 and his future plans.
Your upcoming film, Jannat, delves into the cricketing world of match fixing and betting...
Jannat is a love story set against the backdrop of cricket. We wanted to make a film on sports. There are no positive or negative characters in the film. They are all real characters.
We stumbled upon this idea of the protagonist playing a bookie. He is someone who has big aspirations and wants to make a quick buck and is willing to go to any extent for that. He starts off as a small-time gambler, an avid cricket lover and eventually gets involved in the betting nexus.
I play this crazy bloke, who wants to give his woman everything.
Apparently, Jannat bears references to real-life incidences like Bob Woolmer's mysterious death, the Azhar-Jadeja match fixing episode etc...
I don't follow cricket. But [director] Kunal Deshmukh is very passionate about the game. He has been following the sport right from his college days. That's how the idea of Jannat originated. Moreover, I was very intrigued by Tehelka's book on cricket.
Jannat doesn't deal with any particular person. People might find similarities but there are none whatsoever. It's entirely up to the viewer's discretion.
The film is about a sport the nation loves. We don't want to malign any cricketing icons or show anyone in bad light.
'I am entitled to a paycheck from all these newcomers!'
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So many newcomers have been launched opposite you like Kangana Ranaut (Gangster) and Geeta Basra (The Train). The latest is Sonal Chauhan in Jannat.
I am entitled to a paycheck from all these newcomers!
On a serious note, there is so much you can learn from them. I still think I'm a novice at acting. I consider myself to be a newcomer. I still have a lot to learn. The very prospect of working with new entrants makes me happy. I have enjoyed working with all of them. I've never had bad experiences.
Sonal has given a commendable performance. A lot of women would be able to relate to her character.
Any qualms about working with debutant director Kunal Deshmukh?
I have known Kunal for quite some time. He assisted Mohit Suri [director of Zeher, Kalyug and Awarapan]. He is quite experienced even though this is his first feature film. He has presented the film in a contemporary way. His passion for cricket has added that zing to the film. He has made the characters very endearing. He has treated the film well.
The word 'prostitute' has been removed from the promos. Do you think the Censor Board was unreasonable?
There is a line in the film which says, 'cricketers aur prostitutes mein zyada farak nahin hota'. I don't think the word 'prostitute' is objectionable or offensive. Take a look at any programme on television today. There is so much more shock value to these in comparison to films.
I think it's unjust but they [censor board] probably have their own way of judging it. We had to abide by that. So we changed 'prostitutes' to 'actors.'
'I don't know why it gathers so much news when I kiss'
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You said you were forced to kiss in the film. If you had it your way would Jannat have been 'smooch-free'?
My director got greedy, I think. He wanted something that young couples could identify with. So one thing led to the other and that probably explains the kissing spree in Jannat.
So, yes, in a way, I was forced to kiss.
Are you comfortable with your 'serial kisser' image?
I don't know why it gathers so much news when I kiss. It becomes a topic of national interest. There are so many others kissing onscreen. I don't give it much thought. It's not even there at the back of my mind. I just want to do good, substantial roles. I am not vying for an image makeover.
I aspire to do films that are different. I don't wish to be a part of stereotypical love stories. I don't see myself duplicating an image or living up to an image. I just do films that I find interesting. For instance, I didn't ask Kunal Deshkmuh if there was a kissing scene in Jannat. I did it because I loved the character. I loved the concept of match fixing and the bookies angle.
'Himesh and I are friends'
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Do you ever feel obligated or tied to the 'Bhatt' camp?
No. I am not just an actor in the company. I'm part of the entire filmmaking process, from the start till the marketting stage. This kind of participation, especially with your own family people, is amazing. I don't feel obligated.
I have turned down scripts like Woh Lamhe. It was a great script but I felt I couldn't do justice to the character. I didn't see myself playing that role, with due respect to everyone involved in the film. It's not a hard and fast rule that I have to do a Mahesh/Mukesh Bhatt film. I should be able to do justice to the particular character.
After the dismal The Train and Good Boy Bad Boy, how do you look back at 2007?
I think I became overconfident after Gangster. Awarapan fetched me critical acclaim but it was panned in India. We didn't match the marketting muscle of the other films [Himesh Reshammiya-starrer Aap Kaa Surroor and Sunny Deol-starrer Apne] that released on the same day. Moreover, it was a very serious a role. But it opened new avenues for me.
Good Boy Bad Boy started off as a great concept but it didn't turn out the way we'd envisioned it. Constant script changes and other issues added to its failure. But I don't blame anyone for it. I am accountable for all my actions.
The Train was very similar to something that I had done before. It was a lot like Zeher.
But I don't regret doing these films. One learns from mistakes. The year, 2007, was a great learning experience for me.
What is your equation with Himesh Reshammiya today?
We are friends and I will always be in touch with him. He is a great singer-composer. He has given incredible music in my films. He is a talented guy.
What do you think of him as an actor?
I haven't seen Aap Kaa Surroor.
'I'm sure that my 2008 will outdo 2006'
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Tell us about Mohit Suri's Raaz 2.
Raaz 2 is a new take on the horror genre. We have urbanised it. The original was based in seclusion, in the woods, in a small town. We wanted people from cities to relate to it, so we have conceptualised it that way. This time, it's a different secret, a different raaz that you will discover. There are no characters from the original film. Kangana Ranaut is opposite me.
There are a lot of surprises in Raaz 2. We wanted to set the mood for the film so it has been shot in eerie places like Bhangarh in Rajasthan, Whitechapel in London and some portions in Mumbai.
You're doing a film for Warner Bros, is that right?
I am not in a position to confirm or deny this news. There are three films in the pipeline. I will announce them one at a time. At the moment, it's just Raaz 2 for me.
You also want to do a film for children?
Yes. I have done so many 'A' rated films that I really want to do something for kids. They have probably heard my songs and even had a sneak peak into my films.
Your future plans?
I want to do meaningful, meaty roles as an actor. I want to be a part of relevant stories, play wacky characters.
Any regrets?
No regrets at all! I am not the kind to sit back and mope over failures. I take them as a steeping stone to success. I don't regret anything that I do personally or professionally. Failures lead to bigger successes.
An important lesson that I have learnt is to stop taking my career for granted. My 2007 was not as great as 2006. But I'm sure that my 2008 will outdo 2006.
How has marriage impacted your life?
I am the same stupid, idiotic person that I was before marriage. It hasn't changed me at all. It took us a while to come to terms that we were married. I still call Parveen [Sahani] my girlfriend sometimes.
She is very critical of my work. If she hates my films, she will make no bones about it. I can turn to her for an honest opinion. She loved Awarapan but hated The Train.
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