Emraan Hashmi He doesn’t have many blockbuster movies in his filmography, but the actor has a cult following for his stellar performances. Hashmi gave one of his most memorable performances in ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’. Film, director Milan LuthriaHe played Shoaib Khan. The portrait of the ambitious figure stood out for emphasis.However, the decision to take the role was not easy. His uncle Mahesh Bhatthe had serious reservations. He felt that the character could damage Emraan’s image. The concern was how the audience would perceive him after such a role.
‘Career over’ warning for Emraan Hashmi
In 2024, Emraan talked about this phase in an interview with The Lallantop. He revealed the warning he received before signing the film. He recalled Mahesh Bhatt saying, “If you play this character, your career will be over.” Emraan added, “He warned me, ‘While some characters with shades of gray are able to redeem themselves, this character will change people’s perception of you overnight’.” That warning reflected real fear. At the time, anti-hero roles were still a risky option. Actors often avoided playing morally complex characters.
The success of ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’ changes the perception
Despite the concerns, Emraan went ahead with the film. The risk paid off. ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai’ was released in 2010 and was a huge hit. Emraan later shared that Mahesh Bhatt accepted his misjudgment. He said: “When the film was released and it was a big hit, he called Milan and said, ‘I’m sorry. I was wrong.’” He admitted that the film, contrary to his initial thinking, was entertaining rather than dark.“The film changed the perception of Emraan’s abilities. He proved that he could handle layered roles beyond his usual image. The film benefited from a strong supporting cast. Ajay Devgn played an important role. Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai and Randeep Hooda added depth to the narrative. The film is now seen as a modern gangster genre classic.
Emraan’s ultimate villain role in ‘OG’
On the work front, Emraan has recently appeared in OG. The film stars Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. Emraan played a negative role, marking his Telugu debut. The film received a rating of 3 out of 5 stars from ETimes. The review praised his performance, “Emraan Hashmi makes a big impact as the menacing Omi, though his character could have used more depth. It still works as a promising debut in this space.A brief but memorable cameo by Japanese actor Kazuki Kitamura hints at bigger things to come, keeping fans curious for the sequel. Sriya Reddy delivers a strong performance, while Priyanka feels protected by Arul Mohan’s Kanmani. Prakash Raj as Satya Dada oozes authority and intensity, especially in his dynamic with OG. Arjun Das also leaves an impression.”
