Vikram Bhatt's Mr X is an acid test for Emraan Hashmi whose last few films have missed the target. We caught up with the actor to grill him on how he's feeling about the recent pitfalls in his professional life. Excerpts:
How did Mr X happen?
Vikram Bhatt spoke to me about Mr X when we were doing Raaz 3. I was quite excited by the thought that he wanted me to play an invisible man. Trust me, I had a ball shooting this film.
Vikram Bhatt spoke to me about Mr X when we were doing Raaz 3. I was quite excited by the thought that he wanted me to play an invisible man. Trust me, I had a ball shooting this film.
Is it inspired by Mahesh Bhatt's dad Nanubhai Bhatt's 1957 film Mr X?
Inspiration is a very abused word. I wouldn't draw references to any film.
The VFX team had to prepare, not me. They worked on this film for 10 months, They had to make me disappear and reappear in many scenes (smiles).
We hear, you want to reinvent yourself...
Yes. But reinvention is a journey and can be accomplished only by doing a series of films (pauses).
Go on...
I was doing only erotic thrillers. I had started to repeat myself. There was a certain amount of frustration in me when I came home in the evenings after the shoot. Actually, my reinvention began with Shanghai. I realised that I needed to do different stuff to survive.
Box-office is important- but only at times. Many films give you credibility as an actor which the collections at ticket windows fail to deliver. Haven't many films garnered Rs 100 crore but most people who have seen it had only bad things to say about them?
I loved Raja Natwarlal. I can dissect it hundred times, but I would still have no answer to your question (shrugs),
There were several factors that delayed the film. Ungli was a film on corruption and it hit the theatres when people were looking at a new government with optimism. If it had released six months earlier when there was a mood of discontent, the story would have been different.
Do you have second thoughts about having moved out to do films outside Vishesh Films banner?
Your 'serial kisser' tag has faded out.Nowadays, every alternate hero is locking lips with his leading lady in the film...
The shock value when I locked lips with my leading lady is now gone. You are right in saying that every alternate hero is doing kissing scenes now. I am happy for them to have taken this mantle from me. Let them now take it forward (smiles).