In a candid conversation on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi opened up about being typecast as a “serial kisser” in the industry. Hashmi, who has been associated with this image for years, explained that both producers and he deliberately cultivated this persona for a long time. As a result, the actor does not blame the audience for the enduring tag.
Reflecting on his career, Hashmi stated, “I think bahot saare artists ke sath ek patent cheez ho jaati hai, ek image set ho jaata hai, aur wo unka saath nahin chodhta hai (With many artists, an image is set, and it doesn’t leave them).”
He pointed out that such typecasting is not unique to him, citing examples of other Bollywood stars. Shah Rukh Khan is famously associated with his iconic spreading-hands pose, Salman Khan is often remembered for his shirtless scenes, and Anil Kapoor is synonymous with his “Jhakaas” catchphrase.
Hashmi elaborated that from the early 2000s until 2009, his image as a “serial kisser” was something that producers actively marketed, and he willingly embraced it. “I don’t blame the audience. A large part of my career until 2009, 7-8 saal tak, woh image tha mera jo producers sell kar rahe the. Mai khud sell kar raha tha (A large part of my career till 2009, for 7-8 years, it was my image that the producers were selling. I was selling it myself),” he remarked.
Discussing his bold scenes in the film *Murder*, Hashmi acknowledged that these moments were a “sticking point” in Bollywood, as the audience had not seen such “unapologetic rebellious characters” before. This boldness became a defining feature of his on-screen persona, further cementing his typecast image.
Emraan Hashmi is renowned for his roles in films like Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Gangster, Jannat, Tum Mile, and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. He was last seen in Tiger Zinda Hai and made a cameo appearance in the Amazon Prime original Ae Watan Mere Watan.
As he continues to evolve in his career, Hashmi’s reflections on his typecast image highlight the complexities of Bollywood stardom and the enduring impact of early career choices.