More than two decades into his career, Emraan Hashmi remains one of Bollywood’s most recognisable faces, yet the serial kisser label from his early years continues to trail him. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, the Taskaree star spoke candidly about how the tag came to define a phase of his journey, how he leaned into it, and why he eventually chose to move on.

Hashmi made his acting debut with Footpath in 2003, but it was Murder (2004) that turned him into a household name. His pairing with Mallika Sherawat and the film’s bold romantic moments sparked widespread conversation, quickly cementing his bad boy image. As thrillers and sensual dramas followed, the actor became synonymous with intense roles and on-screen intimacy. A perception he admits was strategically amplified.

Looking back, Hashmi acknowledged that the image worked in his favour at the time. Speaking on the same he said, “I think this is not something that’s very specific to me as an actor. It’s happened to many people in the West. You’ve seen comic actors who probably have a problem breaking through. The classic example is Jim Carey. So I think people like to slot you.”