You’ve a pretty strong audience base, who do you think is a typical Emraan Hashmi fan?
He’s the man on the street. He lives in the interior of our country. He watches his films in the single-screen theatre, whistles at the songs and claps at the dialogues. My audience gives me instant feedback and I live for that.

Why do you think you are unable to attract the slick city crowd and women fans?
That’s because of the stuff I do on screen. Women usually are taken aback. The elitist audience looks down on my films but I think it’s hypocrisy. They see more stuff in English films and seem to lap it up.

Why did you join Bollywood in the first place?
Largely, it was because of the lure of money. And also, because I was bored. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I was studying commerce which was a complete waste of time because I have zilch business acumen.
I quit all that to assist Vikram Bhatt in Kasoor and Raaz. And that changed my life.

But whose idea was it to launch you as a hero?
I always wanted to act but I was too shy to say it aloud. My grandmother, Purnima Verma, who is yesteryear’s actress was keen to see me on screen.
Mahesh Bhatt saab, who is also my uncle, felt I could give it a shot and offered me Footpath.

Do you think the image of being a ‘serial kisser’ has gone against you?
Other actors also have an image and live with it. The bottomline is that the audience has accepted me and I’ve to give them what they want. Suddenly, I can’t shift gears by doing an arty, intellectual film. At the end of the day, at least I’ve a recall value. Fifty years on, they’ll still remember me as the guy who used to kiss on screen.

... contd.