Himesh and I are not married: Emran Hashm

By Subhash K Jha

Though it isn't public yet Emran Hashmi, just married and fresh from his honeymoon, is all set to stretch his wings beyond the family fold.

Says a source, " Not that he's moving out of the Bhatt camp. Emran is too rooted to family values to turn his back on his uncles. But he's definitely doing outside films, chief among them being a comedy with Feroz Nadiadwala and another with Kumar Mangat."

Emran is cautious in his reply. "When you work with a name like Mahesh Bhatt it has its pros and cons. The Bhatts do make a dark dramatic high-concept emotional kind of cinema. And it's wonderful to be part of that cinema. But I do need to explore another lighter facet of my personality as an actor"

Also, one may add, the pay-cheque would be family-based and hence nominal. "Money has never been an issue with the Bhatts. Vishesh Films is a family concern. And I'm doing as many films now outside the Bhatt camp as I do outside. If I've two films with the Bhatts I now have at least two outside films including one with Shayam Bajaj with whom I did Aksar."

What about the inseparable team with Himesh Reshammiya? "What about it?" Emran shoots back shyly. " For my own selfish reasons I wouldn't like to go on depending on Himesh's tracks. It then becomes like a crutch.

I don't want any handicaps in my career. Yes, I'd like to believe good music adds as much to a film's success quotient as a good director. I've had a good run of films with Mohit Suri, Anurag Basu and Anant Mahadevan. It's good to learn from them and then experiment with other directorial talents.

I'd rather move forward without any external support," Emran shyly refers to his move away from the Bhatts and Himesh.

"Himesh and I are not husband or wife to be inseparable. He's a very talented man and he has played his cards right. He has played a big hand in my career. Himesh has given me great tracks like Aashiq banaya aapne and Jhalak dikhla ja. Music is today very important for the success of as star."

Emran concludes, "I just want to do good and diverse films. I believe the boxoffice is important. For my kitchen to function it's important for the producer to profit. I'd like to work with more like-minded people.

It doesn't matter who is making the film. For me acting is an expression of my personality. I started right after college assisting Bhatt Saab and Vikram Bhatt. I never felt I could make anything of my life.

Then I met this man called Mahesh Bhatt who instilled a lot of confidence in me. He virtually held my hand and took me through the whole process of performing. I can never thank him enough."

Marriage has brought no outward changes in Emran's life. "My wife Parveen knows my life inside-out. She recognizes my space. She knows how important my career is. She loves kids. She was teaching at a play school. She'll probably continue to do so.

We haven't moved to a new place. 2007 will bring changes in my career. Somewhere I need to do films that will position my career on another level. Let's see it goes. I think this will be a very good year."