Emraan Hashmi's portrayal as the antagonist in the recent film Tiger 3, featuring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, has earned him widespread acclaim.

Reflecting on his earlier "serial-kisser" image, Hashmi admitted enjoying the attention it brought during his early career. Yet, he gradually realized the necessity of distancing himself from this persona. In a discussion with The Indian Express, Emraan Hashmi discussed his evolution as an actor and addressed the "serial-kisser" tag. He remarked, "There's a danger for actors when playing a commercial lead, as they might get typecast. In my case, being labeled a 'serial-kisser' was absurd. Initially a joke, but it stuck."

Emraan acknowledged that the "serial-kisser" tag initially connected with audiences and media, contributing to his films' success at the box office. However, he consciously moved away from this characterization, anticipating audience fatigue. "I felt it had its time, and I decided to change course before it wore out. You can't keep offering the same thing. Change is essential," he emphasized. Recently seen as ISI agent Aatish Rehman in Tiger 3, Emraan's performance and the film have received positive reviews, marking a significant commercial success.

Emraan Hashmi was notably associated with the Bhatt camp for a considerable part of his career. Films like Murder, Murder 2, Gangster, Aksar, Zeher, and Aashique Banaya Aapne were pivotal in shaping his journey.