Actor Nitin Rao, who had the opportunity to star alongside Emraan Hashmi in the recently released Taskaree, has expressed his admiration for the Bollywood star. He noted that despite Hashmi’s seniority in the industry, he never created a sense of hierarchy on set.
A Comfortable Collaboration
Talking about his experience working with Emraan, Nitin shared, “Working with Emraan Hashmi was a very comfortable and enriching experience. Despite being such a senior actor, he never made me feel that hierarchy on set. From day one, everything felt natural and organic. We had a lot of conversations, and our scenes flowed effortlessly.”
Nitin appreciated Emraan’s ability to foster a relaxed atmosphere. “There was no nervousness or hesitation from my side because he creates a very relaxed environment around him. His calm and restrained approach helped me stay present in the moment, and our performances naturally fed off each other.”
Diverse Roles and Experiences
Nitin has previously appeared in projects such as Kaun Pravin Tambe?, Darbar starring Rajinikanth, and Samrat Prithviraj. He revealed what made Taskaree an immediate choice for him. “Taskaree felt like a homecoming for me. I had previously worked with the same production house on Kaun Pravin Tambe?, so there was already a sense of familiarity and trust. When I came in for the audition, everything clicked naturally — both sides felt I was right for the role. What excited me most was how different this character was from what I had done before.”
Embracing New Challenges
“In Kaun Pravin Tambe?, I played Abhi Koravela, a real-life character who was soft-spoken, gentle, and calm. In Taskaree, my character operates at the ground level of Mumbai’s smuggling network — rough, tough, and deeply entrenched in crime, where violence and execution are just part of the job. That contrast really intrigued me.”
Nitin added, “It gave me a chance to explore a completely different side of myself as an actor and showcase my versatility, which is why I immediately said yes to the project.”
Reflecting on the emotional depth of his character, Nitin noted how different it is from his real self. “I am very different from this character. In real life, I’m calm, positive, and deeply connected to yoga and mindfulness. Playing someone who thrives in chaos and violence was a complete contrast — almost 180 degrees from who I am.”
Positive Reception
Nitin expressed his excitement about the role: “That’s what made it exciting. I wanted to experiment and push myself out of my comfort zone. The response I’ve received so far has been very encouraging, which reassures me that the risk was worth it.”
Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web also features Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, Zoya Afroz, Nandish Sandhu, and Anurag Sinha.