Family Man

EMRAAN HASHMI OWES MUCH OF HIS REINVENTION TO HIS BRAVE-HEART SON AYAAN, WRITES RAGHUVENDRA SINGH

- Raghuvendra Singh

In the past two decades he’s hit both - troughs and triumphs - stealing life pearls from both. Emraan Hashmi took up acting as a summer job and settled comfortably into uncle Mahesh Bhatt’s productions, his mandatory ‘kissing scene’ in the films scorching the boxoffice. Murder, Raaz: The Mystery Continues, Jannat, Gangster, Kalyug, Awarapan… his has been an emblematic brand of cinema.

He hit a new curve when he rediscovered himself in films like Shanghai, Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai, The Dirty Picture… and the recent Why Cheat India for which he even turned producer. He’s also dabbling with the digital platform with the Netflix’s upcoming thriller The Bard of Blood.

His personal awakening has quietly run parallel to his professional jaunt. The young father was devastated when his four-year-old son, Ayaan, was diagnosed with cancer. His definition of life, happiness and achievement underwent a complete overhaul. To demystify the disease and narrate their story, Emraan came out with the book, The Kiss of Life: How A Superhero and My Son Defeated Cancer. And just recently, he shared the news that Ayaan has finally beaten cancer after a fight of five years. Through it all, what Emraan learnt was to dwell in the moment and celebrate each day without the encumbrances of the past – a winning formula he attributes to his li’l hero Ayaan. Excerpts…

Why Cheat India received a mixed response. What made it worthwhile for you?