Sharib Hashmi: Constantly Disparaging Bollywood Is Wrong, But We Also Need To Do Things Differently And Work Harder

Talking to Prateek Sur, Sharib Hashmi opens up about his recent projects, how OTT revived his career, why Bollywood films aren바카라™t working in today바카라™s time, and how he wishes to direct a film soon. He also gives a hint about when we can see 바카라˜The Family Man 3바카라™. Excerpts from the chat:

You바카라™ve been doing projects back-to-back. What are those tick boxes that you have before you select a certain script?

Answer lies in question itself. Script itself is the biggest reason why I take up a project. The Has to excite me. I read it as an audience it should engage me as a audience & what my character is contributing to the story. The direct & the entire team comes after this

You began your career as a leading man with 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™, but you바카라™ve very calmly accepted yourself as a supporting actor in today바카라™s times. Do you not envy wanting to do lead roles?

I actually started with 바카라˜Jab Tak Hai Jaan바카라™ wherein I was a supporting character. I am doing films wherein I am the main lead. I dont look at the character as a supporting character or main lead, what excites me is the potential that character provides me to perform. I won바카라™t hesitate playing a potential role even its for just one scene. Scene length or the character dosen바카라™t matter to me. I have done a one scene part in 바카라˜Scam: 1992바카라™ and I got a lot of appreciation for it. Even in 바카라˜The Family man바카라™, I played supporting character and 바카라˜The Family Man바카라™ actually changed my life. I have always kept it open. If I would have kept options narrow I wouldn바카라™t have been at the heights I am standing now.

Despite the success of initial projects like 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™ and 바카라˜Jab Tak Hai Jaan바카라™, were projects coming up to you? Or did you face a tough time till before OTT boom happened in India?

Yes, I actually faced tough times post 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™. I had in fact thought post 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™ things would become easy and I may get big offers from big production houses. I did sign a few films as well but some of them were shelved, some were stuck midway. Even independent films were ready but were not able to find buyers. Time just kept flying and post 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™ for 3 years I didnt do anything that could grab the eye of audience and then 바카라˜The Family Man바카라™ happened and things were back to track.

Has OTT been a big part of your career revival in the last few years?

After 바카라˜The Family Man바카라™, I did get opportunity in 바카라˜Asur바카라™ which did really well then 바카라˜Scam: 1992바카라™ and 바카라˜Great Indian Murder바카라™. I had the opportunity to select and do the characters that I really wanted and felt like doing. So yes, OTT absolutely brought drastic change in my life and my career. The OTT boom really helped me and I really can't thank enough Raj & DK and Mukesh Chhabra for giving me JK (Character in 바카라˜The Family Man 2바카라™). I really think what I would have done if projects like 바카라˜The Family Man바카라™ would have not happened.

On OTT, do you think actor or actresses who were probably not getting enough work from the mainstream filmmakers are finally getting their due, and getting to play great characters?

Yeah! I think now everybody is getting the chance. Avenues are open and OTT has definitely given opportunities not just to actors, but to everybody. All the creative people they바카라™ve been given great platform and filmmakers want to tell different stories. Even for writers who want to write something different and completely out of the box. So, everybody is able to do what they really wanted to do and the audience has also become very receptive. They are accepting very different and unconventional projects. Yes, I think it has really changed things and definitely for the better.

You바카라™re one of the best character artistes we have in today바카라™s times. Do you get to play more diverse characters in today바카라™s times than what you were getting say 10 years back?

Actually 10 years back I wasn't getting anything but 바카라˜Jab Tak Hai Jaan바카라™, 바카라˜Filmistaan바카라™ were also a different part which I did. I also did 바카라˜Phullu바카라™, which was a very independent film and I played a main lead in that and it was a very different character. I have been very lucky that I got to play diverse roles to perform. If you see my character in 바카라˜Vikram Veda바카라™ was completely different from whatever I had done in the past like 바카라˜Mission Majnu바카라™ or 바카라˜Great Indian Murder바카라™. I had very different character. Even in my forthcoming movies you will see me in very different avatars and in all the films that are going to be released this year. So, I am actually in a very happy phase that I am getting to play different kind of emotions. I am working with filmmakers that were in my bucket list. I am really thankful to God for giving me such opportunities.

When you were not getting that good work in films, was Television never an option? Did you never want to do television so as to just earn money and side by side continue auditioning for films?

Television never excited me, but in this industry, one should never say no for anything. Nothing interesting came my way through television, so I never did anything in Television. I never wanted to do anything just for the sake of money. I hope I do television someday because the reach television has in India this day is unparalleled. Yes, I never looked for television but I dont mind doing television as long as I am offered something that really excites me.

Throughout these many years, 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™ has been one of the biggest shows. Have you ever been approached by 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™? If yes, why didn바카라™t you pick it?

No, I have never been approached for 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™. I have seen many seasons of 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™. So, it바카라™s a good entertaining show.

Would you ever say yes to 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™, if they approached you to be a contestant?

I dont see myself in 바카라˜Bigg Boss바카라™ as a participant as I won바카라™t be able to survive for a day.

On your personal level, you also own a production house. What are those check boxes which need to be ticked before you take up any project for production under your production house?

We are not currently working on any projects because we have not been active in that area since the release of Ram Singh Charlie. If a project arises in that area in the future, however, we may consider it. For the time being, we are not currently considering it.

You also write a lot of scripts. Do you love to write more or act more?

Acting is my first love so, definitely prefer acting over writing. Acting is what I live for, but I also want to write something soon and I want to direct it myself.

As you write as well, so it would correct to ask you, what do you think is going amiss in today바카라™s scripts of Bollywood films? Why are a majority of them not working at the box office?

I'm at a loss of words as to why scripts aren't working. I find it very challenging to respond to your question. In actuality, no one knows. If you knew the cause, you might decide against making the movie because no one wants to spend money on a flop film. Every filmmaker wants their work to be profitable, but many people are afraid of the current situation. I don't know, but I think we should re-evaluate the way we produce movies, consider the entire procedure, including the budget and the film. Regarding the writers, I believe they should exercise original thought. I believe that more time needs to be spent on the scripts because they serve as the foundation for any movie, and if the foundation is solid, risks should be reduced.

At the same time however films from the south or Marathi cinema are somehow doing well?

Ahh, I believe they are producing blockbuster movies. This is been the case for a while now. We produce 100 of films a year but only a few of them are ever talked about. The same is true about south film industry, where they also produce a large number of movies, but we only know about a small number of those that did well. This means that constantly disparaging Bollywood is wrong, but we also need to do things differently, need to work harder and, as far as the South is concerned, I adore Malayalam cinema. Every Malayalam film I've ever seen has amazing content. Most recently, I watched 바카라˜Jai Jai바카라™, which I've already seen twice and will watch again.

Meanwhile your film on OTT, 바카라˜Mission Majnu바카라™ has done extremely well, and people are loving it. Do you think because audiences are getting to see good films like 바카라˜Mission Majnu바카라™ on OTT, they바카라™re not ready to go to theatres to watch films? As in, they바카라™re waiting for a few more days and watching the same movie at the comfort of their homes.

I dont think that this is the reason behind success of 바카라˜Mission Majnu바카라™. If that was the case 바카라˜Pathaan바카라™ wouldn't have worked the way it did at box-office. Audience have been repeatedly watching 바카라˜Pathaan바카라™ in theatres. Films needs to be that compelling for the audience to experience watching the film in a theatre in a complete dark room with complete strangers.

Your character in 바카라˜Shiv Shastri Balboa바카라™ has also been praised a lot. You바카라™ll shot the movie amidst the pandemic. Was it challenging to shoot then?

We were following all the guide lines amidst the shoot during pandemic in August 2021. Though we had some limitations it wasn바카라™t challenging since we had very few characters in film and it was a very small crew.

Any recent film or show that you saw and felt, I wish I was a part of this?

I wish I was a part of Malayalam film 바카라˜Jai Jai Hai바카라™. I wish I was part of 바카라˜Farzi바카라™. I loved these. Also, I wished I was a part of 바카라˜Monica Oh My Darling바카라™, it was like my kind of film. Even if Vasant Bala had called be just for a small scene, I would have been happy to do that.

Every actor has some regrets. Are there any films or projects that you regret picking up or something that you regret letting go?

Yes, I do regret over some films but I choose not to name them.

What바카라™s the update on 바카라˜The Family Man 3바카라™? Are we seeing it this year?

Shoot for 바카라˜The Family Man 3바카라™ has not yet been started so it바카라™s going to take time. I haven't received any update on it. Maybe we바카라™ll definitely start shooting this year end.

Even 바카라˜Asur 2바카라™ has been in the making for a really long time. What바카라™s causing the delay?

I have no clue about 바카라˜Asur 2바카라™ since I died in the first season. So, I am not a part of season 2. I wish I was a part because I loved working on 바카라˜Asur바카라™ and loved working with Arshad Sir, Barun Sobti, Riddhi Dogra, etc.

What next can we see you in?

My upcoming films include 바카라˜Afwaah바카라™ written by Sudhir Mishra. I shall be working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar and Sumit Riyaz. Another film is 바카라˜Rumi Ki Sharafat바카라™ directed by Prashant Bhavya, produced by Maddock and the cast includes Radhika Madan and Varun Sharma. I am also working on another film with Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan directed by Laxman Utekar and I am working for a upcoming series as well.