Emraan Hashmi Reveals The REAL Reason Why He Thought Of Turning Down Tiger 3: 'It’s Salman And...'

Emraan Hashmi recently joined the YRF Spy Universe through his role in the Salman Khan-starrer Tiger 3. In a recent interview, when asked about navigating through a star-studded film that includes names like Katrina Kaif, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, Emraan said that he was never “insecure of not getting my place in the sun”. However, he did admit to briefly considering turning down the role when it was first offered to him.

Speaking to Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, Emraan said, “There was never a time when I felt insecure of not getting my place in the sun. Aditya Chopra told me that we will reveal you at a time when it’s right.” The actor mentioned that the decision to not promote his name during the film’s production was intentional, as the makers aimed to preserve a level of secrecy surrounding his character.

Emraan Hashmi recalled that his initial reaction when he received the offer was to decline it, considering Tiger is Salman Khan’s franchise. However, he changed his mind when he heard the script. He mentioned, “When I was told that I am being considered for the antagonist in Tiger, there was a fleeting thought that [said] no. Because it’s Salman and it’s Tiger and it’s his brand. But that was only for a fraction of a second. When Maneesh narrated the script and told me about Aatish, I was like this guy is so interesting,” he said.

Emraan explained that the character’s backstory convinced him and the fact that he was not just ruthlessly evil. He said, “I knew when I heard the character arc that this is an interesting guy. Even though it’s Tiger’s story, Aatish’s motivations make a big impact.”

During a chat with Zoom, Emraan pointed out that at times, a scene on set may seem like Salman is doing it casually, but when one watches it on the monitor, it’s clear that he’s skillfully handling it. “Sometimes you see him enact a scene on set, and you’re like, ‘Okay, he’s doing it kind of casually’. But you see him on the monitor, you see that he’s pushing the buttons in the right way. This is a testament to the hard work he’s put in for so many years, the experience that he has garnered.”