India, Feb. 4 -- Actor Emraan Hashmi has had an eventful few months, with two acclaimed performances in Haq (2025) and Taskaree: A Smuggler's Web. The actor says that viewers today are far more aware and are particular about the content they consume, compared to when he started his journey in 2005. He states, "Audiences have woken up to such strong content, not just in regard to Indian shows and films, but also globally, that you really can't afford to be average anymore... You have to pull up your socks and do something spectacular." The 46-year-old shares that he prefers longevity over paychecks and box-office numbers: "I believe one should never work only for money; that's the worst thing to do. You might fill your pockets for a film, but it could also be the end of your career." With projects like Haq, Showtime, The Ba***ds of Bollywood (2025), and others, Emraan has been constantly trying to play different characters. And interestingly, the actor who was known for pulling off kissing scenes is now getting talked about for everything but onscreen kisses. When asked if he's trying to break out of the 'serial kisser' image, a label that once brought him massive success but also risked boxing him into a certain image, Emraan says, "It was never about consciously distancing myself from that image. If something interesting came my way, from that buffet of scripts, I picked it and gave it my best." He adds, "I never tried to break away from that image as it was something I chose back in time. Ultimately, it's your work that stays with you. What has changed for me is that over the years, you've developed a sense of what works for you. You keep moving forward, doing diverse roles, and the work starts speaking for itself."...