After a phase of quieter years, Emraan Hashmi has stormed back into the spotlight with a series of attention-grabbing performances. From a viral cameo in Aryan Khan’s The Bads of Bollywood to a critically praised role in Haq, and now a commanding lead in Neeraj Pandey’s international smuggling thriller Taskaree, the actor is clearly riding a powerful comeback wave.
In a recent conversation with Etimes, Emraan opened up about what drew him to Taskaree and how he sees this new phase of his career. He revealed that the opportunity to work with Neeraj Pandey and explore the hidden world of airport customs operations instantly grabbed his attention.
“What brought me to this was Neeraj Pandey’s vision of exploring international smuggling through airports,” Emraan said. “The role of a customs officer was something I was always intrigued by. It’s a world we see every day but know so little about. When Neeraj told me this is the character, I grabbed it with both hands. It would’ve been foolish as an actor to let that opportunity go.”
In Taskaree, Emraan plays Arjun Meena, an upright and sharp customs officer leading a special task force at Mumbai International Airport. The show dives into the high-stakes battle between law enforcement and a sophisticated smuggling network that operates through fake manifests, coded routes, and international diversions. Joining Emraan in the cast are Amruta Khanvilkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu, and Anurag Sinha, while Sharad Kelkar plays the formidable smuggling kingpin Bada Chaudhary.
The series offers a gritty look at how a single missed clue can collapse months of surveillance — making it a tense cat-and-mouse chase between officers driven by instinct and criminals protected by layers of deception.
Emraan also reflected on how his brief but viral cameo in The Bads of Bollywood* unexpectedly reignited massive fan attention. “I honestly don’t know how it happened,” he admitted. “I just did a two-day cameo. The love it received is entirely because of the fans. It’s their tribute and acknowledgement. I’m grateful to Aryan Khan, the writers, the entire Red Chillies and Netflix team for that opportunity.”
With Taskaree adding another strong performance to his recent streak, Emraan Hashmi’s comeback is no longer just a moment — it’s turning into a full-fledged career resurgence.