Ranveer Allahbadia Interviews Emraan Hashmi: Actor Reflects on 'Low Phase' and Fake Friendships

During a recent appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube show The Ranveer Show (TRS), Emraan Hashmi, who is currently promoting his film Ground Zero, shared his experiences of navigating the highs and lows of the film industry. He spoke openly about the illusion of friendships in Bollywood, highlighting how both success and setbacks revealed the true colors of those around him. As Ranveer discussed his own challenges over the past three months, referencing India’s Got Latent controversy, Emraan promptly responded, “Everyone knows it."

Emraan then added, “When your chips are down, you really find out who your true friends are. Everyone else quietly slips away. And then you’re left with the people who truly matter. They are the ones who support you when you’re down. Those are your real friends."

Emraan further spoke about the deceptive allure of Bollywood, pointing out that many relationships in the industry are formed out of self-interest rather than authenticity. “This word ‘friend’ it’s one of the most misused terms in our industry. The people you party with, who come into your life to get something from you—those are need-based relationships, not real friendships. That’s also part of the glamour," he explained.

Looking back on a challenging period in his career, Emraan spoke about the time when his movies struggled at the box office. “I’ve been fortunate to ride a successful wave in my career. But around 2018–2019, when a few of my films didn’t work at the box office, that was probably the lowest point for me. Cheat India and The Body, for instance. I’ve seen how the industry serenades you during your high points. At one point, I couldn’t even stand in my living room—it was filled with flowers and gifts on my birthday. But when the tables turn after just one Friday, all of that stops."

He went on to say, “You become a commodity. You start confusing that attention with love. But the truth is they don’t actually love you. You’re just a means to their end. You are merely a return on the investment they make." On the work front, Emraan’s upcoming release is Ground Zero, backed by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment. The film is set to release in theatres on April 25.