By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) If Emraan Hashmi, known as a serial kisser in filmdom, had his way in his forthcoming release “Jannat”, it would have been free of lip locks. “But then my director Kunal Singh got greedy. He first persuaded me to do one kiss, then another,” Emraan, whose kissing scenes in movies like “Murder” and “Gangster - A Love Story” made headlines, told IANS.

The actor, who turned 29 March 24, was quite tired of kissing and cutting cakes.

“I had already cut four cakes post-midnight, the first one of course with my wife,” he rattled off dutifully. “Then my friends had dropped in and we had a private get-together. The next morning, I was on the sets and doing it all over again.”

“I can’t say I did not enjoy all the attention on my birthday. But if I really had one wish granted on my birthday, it would have to be no shooting! Sadly, that is what I did,” Emran good-humouredly complained.

The shooting of “Jannat” is over. “It just required some patchwork. I enjoyed working, but not at a time when I am wanted by family and friends.” The movie is about match fixing in which Emran plays a bookie.

“Though the film is inspired by real life incidents in the cricketing world, we’ve covered our bases well. We don’t want real life figures from cricket to identify themselves in the movie and create trouble for ‘Jannat’. So, ironically in a film based on true life incidents, we have consciously steered away from getting too close to reality for comfort.”

Though real life cricketers play in the field in “Jannat”, they do not represent any individual cricketer. Does Emraan get on the field at all?

“Actually, I don’t like cricket at all. I don’t play it and hardly ever watch it. Fortunately, I play a bookie. So, I don’t have to play in ‘Jannat’,” he mumbled sheepishly like a brat, who has not done his homework.

Emraan is all praise for his co-star Sonal Chauhan. “She’s totally new. She is the 14th girl to be launched with me. I don’t know how many women Rishi Kapoor launched in his heydays, but I’m getting there.”

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