80% devil and a mere 20% angel makes up Emraan Hashmi

By Bollywood Hungama -

January 1, 2009 - 12:00 AM IST

'Unapologetically confident', these are Emran Hashmi's initials. He makes the dark look desirable. Don't believe us? Rent a copy of Footpath or Murder. This Friday, Emran as a cop in Zeher who finds love out of wedlock convinces you that when he is good he is good, but when he is bad, he is excellent

Cocky, caustic, casual, we serve you Emran Hashmi, uninterrupted

And it's a hatrick! Murder, Tumsa Nahin Dekha & now Zeher, the smooch star is on a roll.
(Laughs) Yeah, it's more of a package deal now. And I am not complaining!

Sure you are not. Can anyone ask for better perks?
(Smiles)Yeah, well, but I am a little amused by all the attention that my lip lock has gathered.

"I think I have done a very good job in Zeher!"

You seem to be pretty uninhibited about getting between the sheets. Any paranoia that has set in of late with the gupshup that you mentioned?
I am pot paranoid but amused for sure. I just don't understand why is there such a noise about two people kissing? I see it as an expression of love. Some people are cool with it while some hide behind covers. To each his own comfort.

To the best of my abilities, how I understand a sexual relation can be depicted is by showing the characters kiss and get physically intimate. Anybody who has a different idea of showing sex on screen please get in touch

(The sarcasm is unmistakable)

Infidelity is not pardonable!

Tumsa Nahin Dekha was a dud, but people haven't lost their curiosity about you as an actor. How do you react to that?
That's heartening! A lot of hardwork and focus has gone into giving people those characters. As for Zeher, I can proudly say that I have given it my all. The first thing that Bhatt saab asked me was, 'You are 24 years old and you have to play the role of a 30 year old. Will you be able to manage?' But I am very happy with my performance. I think I have come into my own with Zeher. It's a mature role and I think I have pulled it off very well!

(Hashmi's confident and the guy won't hide it for the world)

Tell us about your character in particular
I play a cop of a small town. Like most Indian men, he is a chauvinist at heart and wants his spouse to play the role of a dutiful wife. The character is in constant turmoil. He is undergoing a broken marriage and is on the verge of a divorce. That's when he enters an illicit relation and then repents. Why you ask, well that's for you to find out

So it has a whodunit angle to it
Yup, ditto Murder, it is a hard hitting crime thriller.

"Ash is a sinful beauty"

Personally, do you think infidelity is pardonable?
No. I don't think it works for me. But I am not too comfortable with the remark that women make, 'All men are cheats'. That's not true, because there are men who are committed to their relation.

Emraan, fractions don't matter
(Laughs) Hey!

So getting back to illicit relations, you are not cool with it?
Nope. It's wrong.

"Most Indian men are chauvinists"

Tell us about your co-star Udita
Udita is great. She is fun and vivacious. There is a certain freshness that she brings to the screen. Paap might not have done well but people seem to have liked her. And she has done a fabulous job of her character in Zeher.

What about Shamita?
I think she has pitched in a good performance. It's a mature role and she's done full justice to it.

"Mohit's shot taking is very different"

Let's talk about your director, Mohit Suri. It's his baby, tell us about him
(Smiles)It's his baby, and he is a baby himself. Mohit's my cousin and we have literally grown up together. We were these two brat assistants on the sets of Raaz and Kasoor. He's all of 24 and it's wonderful to see him direct his first film. Mohit is very sure about himself and his shot taking is distinct. Wait for Zeher to release and you can see people spin praises about his work.

Mohit tells us that you as an actor surrender yourself to the director
Yes. I like to go dumb on the sets. It isn't very nice to act like a know-all. Instead, I prefer that the director guide me and we hit a wavelength where I and my director share a great connection. Between me and Mohit, we have that. And that's what makes Zeher a fine film.

"Woh Lamhe' of Zeher is going to be the 'Bheege Hont tere' of 2005"

The Bhatt's have this uncanny ability to tap good music. What does Zeher sound like?
I like 'Woh lamhe', its going to be the 'Bheege hont tere' of 2005.

Give me one thing that gets the best out of Emran?
I think the script and trust in my director. If the director asks me to do a handstand, I should do it without batting an eyelid. That's the kind of faith an actor needs in his director.

One actress who according to you is 'sinfully' beautiful?
I think Bipasha is very sexy. But a conventional looker like Ash would be my idea of sinful beauty.

How much of devil and angel makes up Emran?
80% devil and a mere 20% angel.

I'll do a hand-stand if asked to

An indecent proposal someone made to you
There was this one time when some slosh girls at bars came up to me and said, 'Sweety, when are you taking me home?'

You have an unapologetic confidence about you. How do you deal with the 'sugar-n-honey' varieties?
See, I don't like that over-the-top niceness that people fake. I am not made that way. I have my share of mood and temper. If you catch me a fowl mood, I am not going to hide it with a smile.

Signing off on 'Zeher', what is your poison?
My poisonwomen!