‘I Fit the Bill of Somebody’: Emraan Hashmi Recalls Being Repeatedly Stopped at Immigration Checks”
Actor Emraan Hashmi recently shared an interesting and candid memory from his early career days, one that many frequent flyers might relate to. The actor revealed that he was often stopped at immigration checks during international travel in the early 2000s, and he believes his appearance, particularly his earrings at the time, may have played a role.
Emraan made this revelation while attending the trailer launch of his upcoming web series Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web in Mumbai on Wednesday. During a media interaction at the event, he was asked whether he had ever faced questioning by customs or immigration officials at airports.
The Fear of Immigration Checks
Responding honestly, Emraan said that customs officials have always treated him kindly whenever he returned to India. However, he admitted that a strange sense of fear always accompanies airport checks, even when there is no real reason for concern. According to him, the anxiety feels completely illogical but unavoidable.
He compared the feeling to the nervousness new drivers experience when they spot a traffic or RTO officer on the road. “Even when you know you have done nothing wrong, your heart still skips a beat,” he explained. Emraan added that while walking through the green channel, he often felt as if he were carrying contraband, despite having nothing but clothes in his luggage.
From Being Suspected to Playing a Customs Officer
Looking back at his early years in the industry, Emraan recalled that immigration officials would frequently pull him aside when he traveled alone. He believes this happened largely because of how he looked at the time. “It could have been the earrings or just the way I carried myself,” he said, adding that profiling was common during that period.
The actor explained that things changed over time. As his public image evolved and he started traveling with his family, the suspicion disappeared. “Now when they see me with my sweet family, they don’t suspect me at all,” Emraan shared with a smile.
He pointed out that in the early 2000s, he would often be separated from the line and taken aside for additional checks. While he does not hold any resentment, he acknowledged that such experiences fall under what is commonly known as profiling. “I probably fit the bill of somebody,” he said, adding that even today, he is not sure what that ‘profile’ was supposed to be.
Interestingly, Emraan’s latest project places him on the other side of the system. In Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, he plays a customs officer, a role that has made him reflect even more on his past airport experiences. The irony was not lost on him, and he seemed amused by how life had come full circle.
Why Emraan’s Story Resonates With Frequent Flyers
Fans appreciated Emraan’s honesty, especially his willingness to speak openly about uncomfortable moments without bitterness. His story resonated with many who have experienced similar anxiety at airports, regardless of innocence.
With Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web set to stream soon, Emraan Hashmi continues to balance compelling on-screen roles with refreshingly grounded off-screen honesty. His anecdote serves as both a personal reflection and a subtle commentary on how appearances once shaped perceptions—especially in a different era.
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