Sharib Hashmi reveals he was initially offered a small role in Haiwaan

Sharib Hashmi in the film. Pic/By Special Arrangement

A missed opportunity - that's what Sharib Hashmi thought when a small role in Haiwaan didn't materialise. Little did he know that destiny had other plans. In a funny turn of events, the actor lost that role in the Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan-led thriller, only to land the plum part of a cop. "I was initially approached by casting director Amarbir Bajwa for another part. I was happy to do it though it was a smaller role. I just wanted to work in a Priyadarshan film," he recalled.

When nobody contacted him for months, Hashmi assumed he wasn't in the running. Then came the twist. "A few months later, Amarbir called me for a bigger role. I said yes immediately. My role as a cop has action, humour, and is not just grey."

The actor met Priyadarshan for the first time on Haiwaan's set. It took him only a few moments to see the filmmaker's magic. Hashmi recounted, "When I met him, I was sporting a fake moustache. He immediately said that he wanted a more robust moustache that I could twirl. It enhanced my look. After working with Priyan sir, I have learned to always be on my toes."