Emraan Hashmi, Salman Khan Are ‘Not Friends, But…’, ‘Showtime’ Actor Reveals

Actor Emraan Hashmi, recently seen in Salman Khan’s “Tiger 3” and the Sara Ali Khan-starrer “Ae Watan Mere Watan,” is currently promoting his web series “Showtime.” In a candid interview with The Lallantop, Hashmi opened up about his first encounter with Shah Rukh Khan back in 2003, long before Khan produced Hashmi’s Netflix series “Bard of Blood.” The actor also shared his experiences working with Salman Khan on “Tiger 3” and addressed rumours about Salman’s punctuality.

Recalling his first meeting with SRK, Emraan shared, “I first met SRK on the sets of my film ‘Murder’ when he had come to meet (Mahesh) Bhatt sahab. I was inside, giving my shot, and he waved to me, showing a ‘thumbs-up’ sign and said something like, ‘You are doing well.’ I don’t know if he had seen ‘Footpath’ (2003 film) but that was very encouraging for me because I am a very big SRK fan. That’s how my first meeting with SRK was.”

Hashmi further elaborated on his professional relationship with Khan during the making of “Bard of Blood.” “After that when ‘Bard of Blood’ was made, I went to his house, and we sat and watched some episodes together. We also discussed the show because he was the producer, and his observations were very important and valuable to us,” the actor added.

Emraan also spoke about his dynamic with Salman Khan, his co-star in “Tiger 3.” When asked whether Salman is always late on set, Hashmi chuckled and said, “I’d say he has his schedule. He has his one timing and schedule, but he is one of the best people to work with. He is very fond of me, and I am very fond of him.”

He went on to describe their professional relationship, saying, “We are not friends but there is mutual respect. When we were shooting together, and sitting together on sets, it felt like I was talking to a friend. He is a lot more senior than me but we both grew up in the same neighbourhood of Bandra, and we also talk about fitness. It is easy to converse with him; there are times when you feel a certain kind of ease with some people, I feel that way with Salman.”

As Emraan Hashmi continues to promote “Showtime,” his reflections on past experiences highlight the camaraderie and respect that underscore his interactions with Bollywood’s biggest stars.