Emraan Hashmi Reflects on His Unconventional Bollywood Journey
Emraan Hashmi is currently enjoying the enthusiastic response to the Neeraj Pandey series, 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web'. The actor sees renewed attention for his career decisions as audiences connect with a phase that feels lighter, confident, and deliberately non-traditional.
Never Aiming to Be a Conventional Hero
In a recent interview with Moneycontrol, Hashmi opened up about his career trajectory. He has long been known for playing morally complex characters. Hashmi stated he never intended to become a traditional hero. Instead, he built his career around roles that felt instinctive to him, even when they created a fixed public image early on.
"I don't think I ever fit the bill of a conventional hero," Hashmi said. He noted that while most of his films were commercial successes, "the characters have always been a little off the beaten path. Gray shades, very unconventional arcs."
The Power of Early Image Formation
Hashmi explained how an image formed at the start of a career tends to stick. "Aur jab aapko career ke shuruat mein hi aisi movies mil jaati hai toh people start envisioning you as that, as being a strength," he told the outlet. This translates to: "And when you get such films right at the start of your career, people begin to see you as that, and consider it your strength."
He added that this perception never bothered him. Hashmi emphasized he never saw himself playing standard heroic roles. "I don't think I would have gone down the path of doing the atypical hero roles. I don't think I would be suited to it because my mind is not that way. I always think a little odd and off."
Audience Love Versus Critical Acclaim
The actor also addressed the gap between audience support and critical recognition. "People forget also that audiences have given me a lot of love," Hashmi said. "Initially, yes, I didn't get critical acclaim because of the nature of the films. But the fans have been very supportive."
Clarity, Not Reinvention, Drives Current Phase
Hashmi believes his current choices reflect clarity rather than a complete reinvention. He stressed that the success of any project depends on the entire cast and the story itself. "For me, it's always the script and the overall film or show is paramount," he explained. "Although it seems like a selfless move, it's a selfish move because ultimately it's very important for everyone's performance to work for me to work."
He pushed back against the notion that darker storytelling is always superior. "Sometimes making something raw, something very raw, really gritty. You lose the entertainment quotient. It has to be a little poppy," Hashmi remarked.
Acknowledging His Filmography and Public Perception
Looking back, Hashmi acknowledged that many viewers still associate him with films like 'Murder', 'Jannat', and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai'. "Those audiences have never seen me in 'Shanghai' or as a Tiger," he pointed out. Today, he views his body of work as "a complete mixed bag," driven by artistic range rather than image correction.
Details on 'Taskaree' and Recent Projects
'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web' Season 1 began streaming on Netflix on January 14, 2026. The seven-episode crime thriller is created by Neeraj Pandey. It tells a complete, self-contained story within its first season.
Hashmi also made a brief cameo in 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood'. He used self-aware humor to playfully riff on his public image, demonstrating his comfort with experimentation and not taking himself too seriously.
Emraan Hashmi's journey continues to defy easy categorization. His focus remains on scripts and characters that resonate with him personally, building a filmography that is uniquely his own.
