Emraan Hashmi, born into a family of film stars, recently opened up about his early struggles and his grandmother Purnima Das Verma’s initial reluctance towards his acting career. Purnima, a veteran actress known for her roles in black-and-white films and as Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in the 1973 film “Zanjeer,” had hoped her grandson would pursue a different path.
In a candid interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Emraan shared, “She was scared. She didn’t think I could do acting.” Despite her influence on his life, Purnima was protective and wary of the unpredictable nature of the film industry. “She had seen so many ups and downs in her life that she was scared for me,” Emraan explained.
Emraan’s entry into acting wasn’t straightforward. “Sometimes what happens is that you come into the industry, your film gets launched, and then the audience rejects you overnight. This has happened to a lot of people,” he noted, reflecting on his grandmother’s concerns. She advised him to consider alternative careers, fearing he didn’t possess the conventional looks or talents often associated with film stars.
However, Emraan’s fortunes changed when his uncle, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, saw potential in him. “Mahesh Bhatt said, ‘I believe he can be an actor, I will launch him,’ and that’s when she felt at ease,” Emraan recalled. Bhatt’s belief convinced Purnima that her grandson could indeed succeed in the industry.
Emraan began his career assisting Mahesh Bhatt on the sets of “Raaz” before being cast in his debut film, “Footpath.” “The profession chose me, I didn’t choose films,” Emraan said, recounting how Bhatt’s company was restructuring and looking for new talent.
Bhatt’s approach to mentoring was tough but effective. Emraan shared, “Mahesh Bhatt was quite clear before starting our first film together. He told me, ‘We are not a charitable association. If you can’t act and if the audience doesn’t like your performance, I won’t hesitate to throw you out of the film.'” This no-nonsense attitude pushed Emraan to hone his skills under pressure.
Despite his initial doubts, Emraan’s performance in “Footpath” was well-received. “My schedule was just seven days for Footpath. However, they were so impressed with my acting that two days later, they held a special screening for my grandmother,” Emraan recalled. Mahesh Bhatt proudly told Purnima, “You thought he couldn’t act, but there is a star born in the family.”
Since then, Emraan Hashmi has starred in numerous successful films, including “Murder,” “Murder 2,” “Jannat,” “Raaz 3,” and “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai.”
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