Emraan Hashmi's previous outing Raja Natwarlal, failed to rake in the moolah. But he insists he did not feel the pressure to deliver a hit with Mr. X which is almost like a home production. “I treat each movie the same way. Movies are made with a lot of passion and dedication, and if there's one reason any film succeeds, it's because of the many who have put in their hard work.”
While Emraan refers to Vishesh Films as his daal roti, why does he work with other production houses? “For me, it’s the script that does all the work. I like characters that stay with you long after a movie is over and that’s how I choose my films. But the Vishesh banner is certainly my comfort zone and I believe I belong here."
Emraan's characters have withstood the test of time: the persistent boyfriend Sunny in Murder, the undercover agent Akash in Gangster and the ruthless Shoaib Khan in Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai. In Mr. X, he plays a man with the power of invisibility.
Doesn’t playing such a character mean lesser screen time? “Actually, playing an invisible character was a dream. I have always wanted this super power so I could loot a bank and then live happily ever after. So when this film came along, I realised it was as close as I could get to living that dream. The invisibility factor is just an amazing concept to work with. I wish I could go missing on the sets with the help of this super power. Trust me, life would be so much simpler."
How about passing off the kissing scene (with Amyra Dastur) to his invisible avatar? “Well, you can't blame me. I was not even there,” the serial-kisser laughs out loud. “Trust me when I tell you that Amyra would have had an amazing time had I been there physically.”
Asked why he often plays a law-breaking con man, he says, “Blame it on my face. I would love to play a good boy, but I’m just not being offered those roles. But I'll try harder.”
So what makes Mr. X special? “I love the visual effects, besides the script. I wish Mr. X Part 2 happens soon.”
Why are you thinking of a sequel even before the film’s release? “I want my character to go out and help people. I want Mr. X to be etched in people’s memory as the Indian superhero forever,” he says.
