In an industry often characterized by its polished PR machinery and carefully curated public images, actor Emraan Hashmi has once again broken the mold with his trademark bluntness. During a recent promotional circuit for his latest project, Haq, the veteran actor didn’t hold back, labeling the male stars of Bollywood as “highly insecure” and criticizing a systemic “crab mentality” that prevents the industry from truly evolving.
Hashmi’s comments were sparked by a discussion on why Hindi cinema often sticks to safe, hyper-masculine tropes. He pointed out that while there is much talk about “progressive cinema,” very few A-list male actors are willing to play second fiddle or take on roles that don’t center entirely on their own “victory.”
“Men in our industry are very insecure,” Hashmi stated during a conversation with News18 Showsha. He questioned how many of his peers would have the courage to sign a film like Haq—a women-centric narrative where the male lead doesn’t necessarily take the spotlight.
“Every narrative should showcase a man’s victory. I’m not blowing my own trumpet here, but even back then, I did a film like The Dirty Picture. We need to get off our insecurities and do more stuff like that.”
The actor also weighed in on the current trend of “alpha-male” cinema, referencing the massive success of films like Animal. While acknowledging the “woke brigade” that criticizes such films for promoting toxicity, Hashmi offered a pragmatic view: the audience is buying what the industry is selling.
He noted that the hyper-masculine trope is a “cliché that has always worked” because a large section of the domestic audience identifies with it. However, he suggested that the reluctance to explore other facets of the human experience—specifically those that might make an actor look vulnerable—is rooted in a deep-seated fear of losing “star status.”
Beyond individual roles, Hashmi touched upon the interpersonal dynamics of Bollywood. He described a “crap mentality” (or “crab mentality”) where industry insiders are rarely genuinely happy for their colleagues’ success.
“If someone’s film is successful, people say, ‘Oh, the numbers are fudged,'” he remarked, noting that credibility has become a major issue. He urged his peers to stop focusing on their neighbors’ failures and instead invest that energy into their own craft.
“I don’t get into the seriousness of success, failure, or virality. I try to stay detached,” he added, explaining that he learned early on that an actor has very little control over the final outcome once a film hits theaters.
As Bollywood continues to navigate a volatile box office landscape in 2026, Hashmi’s words serve as a stark reminder: the greatest barrier to the industry’s growth might not be the audience’s taste, but the fear within the actors themselves. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
