There are the Khans... there’s the Kumar and the Kapoor... and there’s Emraan Hashmi. Not a star son, not a looker — even though a few fans believe he looks like Colin Farrell — and he doesn’t even have six packs. Yet, Emraan Hashmi is the hit machine — Murder, Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Apne, Gangster, Jannat.... Girls — small, medium, large — want to steal the key to his trademark liplock. And boys, well, they just want to put their ticket-money where his mouth is. We asked the man what makes him kick and kiss, what makes him such a box-office hit, what makes him Emraan Hashmi...

Is Tum Mile like Awarapan yet another attempt from your side to break the Emraan Hashmi image?

Well, it’s a different film. It’s definitely something different. I don’t think it’s only specific to our industry. Also internationally, there is a certain kind of narrative exhaustion. You don’t have many stories. You need new stories to tell. So, whenever a script comes your way which you feel hasn’t been attempted before, it also brings with it challenges and risks. That makes it more interesting for me as an actor. That’s why I want to do a film like this. That’s why it pushes me and drives me. Also hopefully it will give my audience, who will give me another two hours of their lives, something different, rather than the run-of-the-mill things.

So is it now an internal conflict between Emraan Hashmi the star and Emraan Hashmi the actor?

I don’t really know what the meaning of a star is. I just do my thing. I think there are stars who are not very good actors but they are very glamorous and they are very flamboyant. I don’t have any particular goal. I am kind of confused whether I am an actor or a star. Eventually the quest for me is to do interesting films, to keep myself busy and not take myself too seriously. And most importantly, not be a part of the number game which has always been there in Bollywood. Because I feel after a few successful films, the people who give you that number, whatever that number might be, will easily take that number away when your films start failing. I don’t want to be in that position to give those people that power. I have a niche of my own. Emraan Hashmi films are in a different league... they are unique. That’s what I have always wanted to capitalise on.

Define an Emraan Hashmi film....

Till a few years back, it would be about good music, about erotica and kisses. But I think that got repetitive and I wanted to change that. Good songs will always be there. But the rest.... You know, two years back, I started to take my career more seriously. I wanted to do something new, something that challenges me. Not be a safe actor as the industry says. The industry says: “You work in this kind of film and that’s why we want to cast you!” I wanted to break out of that and do something else.

But even in Jannat or Raaz 2, you did the same things that have made you what you are today and you also have the customary kissing scene in Tum Mile...

Well, if I had it my way, I wouldn’t have done it. I think it’s basically catering to the the industry. They feel that if I do those certain things in a film, it works. I beg to differ. I don’t think that’s the way it happens. When the lights go off in a cinema hall, people have to connect with the film and the story in those two or two-and-a-half hours. In that space all these things go out of the window. It’s always about the story.

A section of the media keeps saying that ‘he is being typecast for a kiss’. I don’t see how a kiss can typecast someone. The actors who dance in every film, I don’t understand why they aren’t typecast.

So what do you attribute your incredible — some would say inexplicable — popularity among the youth to?

I think it’s kind of an inspiration what I do on screen. For boys. That would explain it. It’s the cool factor that they attach to it. Honestly, I don’t understand. Maybe I had looked up to someone when I was of that age. Tell me how do you explain my popularity among little kids who are not allowed to see my film? How is that possible? So ultimately no matter how much you try to speculate and analyse why someone’s popular you never really know. Sometimes there’s something else in your head and they are getting something else from your films and your characters.

Has Vishesh Films made life easier for you? They only make films with you...

I think it’s the story that comes first. That also is a comfort zone. I wouldn’t want to do a film that is built around an actor. If the story is written around what I can do and what I cannot do, it’s not a good thing. It’s more challenging for me if I have a great story that comes my way. That gives me the incentive to immerse myself in that. So, when Mahesh Bhatt or the director narrates a story to me, that’s the most exciting part for me. Then I try to give my own interpretation to it. So, first it’s a great idea.

You are becoming a father. Will that change anything about Emraan Hashmi?

I don’t know. I think it brings about a huge change. That’s what people say. I am not feeling it yet. I will know eventually. I do not know what to expect. It’s also kind of scary. Because being a dad comes with a lot of responsibility. There are a few landmark events in a guy’s life and this is probably the most important one. When you realise you are responsible for a life that you have helped create. Even marriage is scary but eventually having a kid is the ultimate thing.