'They've watched, it's my turn now'
The success of Jannat has surprised one and all, including the film's leading man Emraan Hashmi who has wasted no time in hiking his price from an estimated Rs 15 million to Rs 50 million.
"Ya, my price has gone up. I won't say drastically. Right now I can quote a higher price with some justification," Emraan said.
"And why not?" Emraan argues happily. "Equations change every Friday. The sun has started shining for me. I seem to have had a solo hit at a time when only Akshay Kumar and the Khans (Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman) seem to be getting the audiences in," he said.
This is his first hit after duds like The Train, Good Boy, Bad Boy and Awarapan. There is celebration in Emraan's house.
"I've cut about 15 cakes in the past week. And I've just bought a new BMW. I was so confident about Jannat that I had it delivered to my home on the day of its release."
Emraan has even backed out of a film that Warner Brothers was to produce in association with Tandav Films that made the small budget hit flick Khosla Ka Ghosla.
Here the actor gets evasive. "I wouldn't like to comment on which project I backed out from. But yes, we were in serious negotiations. I only had to sign the contract. But as is the rule in the entertainment industry, they were waiting to see how Jannat would perform.
"But now the ball is in my court. Since I'm in a position to negotiate now, why should I sign the film at a price I was supposed to? They were playing the wait-and-watch game. Now that they've watched, it's my turn."
Emraan says his price also goes up for his mentors - Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt.
"I haven't spoken to them about my price now that Jannat has done so well. But they've always been very fair as far as the price goes. We share a professional relationship first, we're relatives later.
"I only sign Bhatt saab's films when I'm convinced about them. It isn't as if I've said yes to all his offers. I was picky earlier. I'm being more picky now."
Emraan says he was always getting offers outside the Bhatt camp. "But yes, after Jannat, the offers from outside are better. This is probably the best time as an actor for me."
