Emraan Hashmi is back in the spotlight, thanks to the success of Awarapan 2, a sequel to the 2007 film that has gone from a box-office disappointment to a cult favourite over the years. But while Awarapan has brought Hashmi back into conversations around his career, there is another lesser-known fact about the actor that often surprises Bollywood fans.
So, how is Emraan Hashmi is related to Alia Bhatt? Let’s find out here.
How Is Emraan Hashmi Related To Alia Bhatt?
The connection comes through the extended Bhatt family. Hashmi’s grandmother, actress Meherbano Mohammad Ali, was the sister of Shirin Mohammad Ali, the mother of filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt. This makes Emraan part of the wider Bhatt family and a cousin of Alia Bhatt.
Alia herself has confirmed the relationship. In a 2013 interview with PTI, while discussing the famous people in her family, Alia was described as the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and the “cousin of actor Emraan Hashmi.”
So, despite having different surnames and largely separate careers, Hashmi and Alia are part of the same extended family.
What Has Emraan Hashmi Said About Alia Bhatt?
Hashmi has never hidden the fact that Alia is his cousin. In fact, he has spoken warmly about her acting career and her growth in Bollywood.
Speaking to Hindustan Times in 2017, he said, “Oh, she is amazing. She has tremendously grown as an actor and deserves all the praise coming her way. She is truly very talented.”
Hashmi also revealed that he had not watched most of Alia’s films at the time, but said he planned to catch up with her work. His praise for Alia goes back even further.
After watching Student Of The Year, Hashmi revealed that Alia had been annoyed with him for not watching her debut film. He added, “Alia was upset that I had not seen Student Of The Year. So I got the DVD, saw the film and congratulated her on it.”
He also watched 2 States and praised her performance.
Emraan Hashmi Once Said He Could Not Romance Alia Bhatt On Screen
When asked whether the cousins could ever share the screen as a romantic pair, Hashmi was quite clear. According to him, “I can only work with her as a brother. Any other thing would make me sick. I can’t romance my cousin and I don’t think anyone has done that; it would be awkward.”
On another occasion, he suggested that playing siblings would be the natural option. In his words, “I think on screen we should play brother and sister in the film then it will be good. Otherwise I think it will be twisted.”
What Has Alia Bhatt Said About Emraan Hashmi?
Alia has also spoken about Hashmi with considerable admiration. In an interview, she described him as, “A great, easy and natural actor.”
She also acknowledged that although they both came from film families, Hashmi had his own struggles in establishing himself. The actress continued, “Though he is also from a filmi family, like me, he has had to struggle a lot to reach the position in which he is today.”
