When Khoj was offered to Sharib Hashmi, he was already sold on the story of a man struggling to prove that the woman, claiming to be his wife, is lying. There was another incentive—it was the first series that saw him play the lead. “I always read a story first to see whether it is engaging me as an audience. Then I see how my character contributes to it. Here, everything fit,” says the actor of the ZEE5 series, also starring Anupriya Goenka and Aamir Dalvi.

In his 16-year career so far, Hashmi has essayed diverse roles, from the leading man’s closest friend in Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) to a supportive husband in Tarla (2023). Now, the actor says he can feel a shift in the industry’s perception, with filmmakers offering him lead roles. “Today, I am not doing anything and everything that’s offered to me. I can afford to choose. I can see filmmakers’ confidence [in me] by the kind of roles I am being offered. The industry’s perception towards me has shifted. I get more love and respect. I’ve worked very hard for it,” he smiles.