Emraan Hashmi is glad to be back in the groove following a year of uncertainty. With Mumbai Saga, he has the perfect potboiler for big screens that have been hit hard by the pandemic. “I saw the film three weeks ago in this theatre and I called up Gupta (Sanjay Gupta, director) to say that they’ve made the right move by going for a theatrical release. It’s an immersive film. I am glad we didn’t hold out and put ourselves out there to help bring back some semblance of normalcy in the world,” says the actor, who plays cop Savarkar to John Abraham’s gangster.

Actors are often skittish about featuring in two-hero projects. Hashmi, who has been keen to collaborate with Gupta, says that the director and Abraham welcomed him with open arms. “I loved Kaante [2002], so working with Gupta was always on my bucket list. I’d be lying if I say actors don’t feel insecure, but the anxieties were put to rest on day one. They were warm, and adopted an honest approach to what was on the page. Gupta allows actors to interpret their character and doesn’t crowd you with his own thoughts.”