Tigers gave me a broader perspective of my craft: Emraan Hashmi

Based on true events, Tigers is a story of a salesman’s battle against a multinational corporation pushing infant formula products in Pakistan, and Syed Aamir Raza Hussain, who became a whistle-blower against his former employer about their grave scam. Directed by the Oscar-winning International director Danis Tanovic, the film stars Emraan Hashmi, Adil Hussain, Geetanjali Thapa, Satyadeep Mishra and Hollywood actor Danny Huston in the cast. As Tigers gears up for the World Television Premiere on &pictures on 27fth December at 9:30 PM, Emraan Hashmi talks about the film, his character and more.

●    Tigers was your first ever International project, how was your experience?
Tigers gave me the opportunity to experiment with my acting capabilities and discover an unbeaten path to prove my mettle. It was an immersive experience to be a part of a project where the cast and crew are from two different worlds and putting up a great film for a rightful cause. It was an honor to work with Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic and it helped me polish my craft and gain new perspectives. All in all, the film saw a great response from the International Film Festivals and I am looking forward to the World Television Premiere of Tigers on &pictures.

●    What is your take in Tigers?
When I first heard about this film being made, I instantly reached out to the team and expressed my enthusiasm for the film. Rest of the process was quite smooth. I was supremely passionate about this film because of the script, the cause and the names attached to it. Since it was based on a true story, we did a thorough research on the character and the incident. The film took several years to go on the screens because of several factors. However, sadly the relevance of the film is still intact.

●    How did Tigers shape your personal and professional journey?
As I said, Tigers was an immersive experience. I would love to do more films like these. Tigers got me international recognition and opened new avenues for me. It was enriching to be a part of a project with such great depth. Personally, the film has made a mark on me so deeply that now I think twice before taking up any project. 

●    Your filmography has been diverse and beyond the generic cinema, what is your stance on that?
I believe that niche cinema has a greater capacity to polish you as an artist as well as a human. I absolutely love doing massy films and Full-On entertainers but I would like to strike a balance between the two. Lately whatever projects that have been offered to me were away from the ordinary box. Tigers was one such film that gave me a broader perspective of my craft. We were telling a story that was bigger than us and such stories define your career. So, I don’t have a definite stance on this, but I’m moving with the flow and let’s see where it takes me. 

●    Tigers debuted on TIFF and now &pictures is hosting the World Television Premiere of it, what are your thoughts on it?
I think it's great that we will be telling our story to a wider and much woke audience. The film received an amazing response from the International Film Festivals and we were elated. It is an issue-based film and deserves as much screening as possible to get the message across. We have worked immensely hard on this film and I am looking forward to the World Television Premiere of Tigers on &pictures and reactions from the audience.