Emraan Hashmi denies playing Mehmood in R.D. Burman biopic
Synopsis
Emraan Hashmi personally stepped onto X to shut down reports that he would play comedian Mehmood in an R.D. Burman biopic — saying he was never even approached. It’s a sharp reminder that in the age of viral casting rumours, even well-sourced-sounding reports can be built on nothing.
Key Takeaways
Emraan Hashmi denied on 11 August that he has been cast as Mehmood in an upcoming R.D.
In a post on X , Hashmi stated he was ‘not approached for the film, nor am I doing it.’ The biopic is reportedly being directed by Neeraj Pandey ; no official casting has been announced.
Hashmi is currently preparing for Awarapan 2 , directed by Nitin Kakkar , co-starring Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi .
The original Awarapan (2007), directed by Mohit Suri , achieved cult status despite a poor box-office debut.
Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi has firmly denied reports linking him to an upcoming biopic on legendary music composer R.D. Burman, calling claims that he would portray comedian-actor Mehmood in the film “untrue.” The clarification came on Monday, 11 August, after a news report circulated online suggesting Hashmi had been cast in the project.
What Emraan Said
Hashmi took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the speculation directly. “Just to clarify, the reports about me playing Mehmood saab in a biopic are untrue. I haven’t been approached for the film, nor am I doing it,” he wrote. The statement left no ambiguity: neither a casting offer nor any formal discussion has taken place, according to the actor.
The Biopic in Question
The R.D. Burman biopic is reportedly being helmed by director Neeraj Pandey, though no official announcement has been made by the production. Mehmood, the celebrated comedian who shared a close friendship with the late music composer, was cited in the circulating reports as the character Hashmi would play. With Hashmi’s denial, the casting of that role remains unconfirmed. Notably, biopics on iconic figures from Bollywood’s golden era have seen a surge in development over recent years, making unverified casting reports a recurring phenomenon.
Emraan’s Upcoming Work
Hashmi’s immediate focus is Awarapan 2, an action thriller directed by Nitin Kakkar and co-starring Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi. The film is a sequel to the 2007 cult classic Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri, which starred Hashmi alongside Shriya Saran, Mrinalini Sharma, and Ashutosh Rana. Despite a poor box-office run on its theatrical release on 29 June 2007, the original earned cult status over time and is widely regarded as one of the finest works of both Hashmi and Suri.
Emraan Hashmi’s Career in Brief
Hashmi made his acting debut with the 2003 crime-thriller Footpath and went on to build a distinct screen identity through films including Murder, Zeher, Gangster, Jannat, Raaz: The Mystery Continues, and The Dirty Picture. Over two decades, he has become one of Hindi cinema’s more bankable genre actors, with a filmography that spans crime thrillers, horror, and drama.
With Awarapan 2 on the horizon, Hashmi’s next chapter in cinema is already set — just not the one the internet briefly imagined.
Point of View
Often sourced anonymously, routinely runs ahead of facts and forces actors to publicly correct the record. The R.D. Burman biopic, if it materialises under Neeraj Pandey, will be a high-stakes project given Burman’s towering legacy; irresponsible casting rumours risk muddying the waters before a single frame is shot. Audiences and the trade deserve better sourcing standards, not viral guesswork dressed up as exclusives.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Emraan Hashmi deny playing Mehmood in the R.D. Burman biopic?
Yes. Emraan Hashmi posted on X on 11 August, stating the reports were ‘untrue’ and that he had not been approached for the film. He confirmed he is not part of the project in any capacity.
Who is reportedly directing the R.D. Burman biopic?
Director Neeraj Pandey is reportedly helming the R.D. Burman biopic, according to reports that have circulated online. No official announcement has been made by the production as of 11 August.
Who was Mehmood and what was his connection to R.D. Burman?
Mehmood was a celebrated comedian-actor in Hindi cinema and a close personal friend of music composer R.D. Burman. The reports had suggested Hashmi would portray him in the biopic, a claim Hashmi has now denied.
What is Emraan Hashmi’s next film?
Emraan Hashmi is set to appear in Awarapan 2, an action thriller directed by Nitin Kakkar. The film co-stars Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi, and is a sequel to the 2007 cult classic Awarapan directed by Mohit Suri.
What was the original Awarapan about?
Awarapan (2007), directed by Mohit Suri, followed gangster Shivam Pandit, ordered by his boss to guard a secret mistress. Though it underperformed at the box office on release on 29 June 2007, it later earned cult status and is regarded as one of Hashmi and Suri’s best collaborations.
