Sharib Hashmi: Didn’t reshoot any part of 'The Family Man 2'

Sharib Hashmi

One of the many highlights of The Family Man is the easy banter between Manoj Bajpayee's Srikant and Sharib Hashmi's JK, be it while they munch outside a vada-pav stall or just minutes before a hostage situation. Ask how it feels to be a much-loved spy, second only to Srikant, and Hashmi says that it's sheer joy to reprise the role of JK. As the second season opens to glowing reviews, the actor discusses his on-screen chemistry with Bajpayee, discovering Chennai during the shoot and how they have "stayed true to the story".

Edited excerpts from the interview.

The second season was deferred several times.
I was heartbroken every time the show was pushed [to a later date of release]. Everyone is happy that it's finally streaming. We started shooting for the second season even before the first instalment was released. Amazon Prime Video was confident of the series and had given a go-ahead for its sequel. We wrapped up the shoot in 2019.

Manoj Bajpayee and Sharib Hashmi bonding on set

A chunk of the season has been shot in Chennai.
Thanks to The Family Man 2, I made my first trip to Chennai. I am a huge fan of Tamil cinema. Kamal Haasan is one of my favourite actors, and I love listening to AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraja's compositions. I have been watching Tamil cinema since the early Doordarshan days. On our days off, we went to Marina beach. I wanted to see Kamal sir's house, but couldn't manage in the time available. The food in Chennai is amazing, especially at the Andhra mess.

Did you face the language barrier?
I haven't grasped the language, which often caused miscommunication. Most locals don't know English or Hindi; we mostly talked in sign language.

How have the dynamics between Srikant and your character changed this season?
In season one, I was like Srikant's shadow. Here, I am left alone and tasked with a mission. The chemistry between Srikant and JK was already set [in season one]. It became easier this time because now, we have an off-screen bond.

This season was also challenging because I had to pull off some action sequences. For a scene, I had to scale a wall and fall on the other side. It was a simple stunt, and the production team had laid out cushions to ease my fall. But I landed on my chest and suffered an internal injury. The pain lasted for months.

The series has a lot riding on it. Did you feel the pressure of the sequel?
When we were shooting, we never let the pressure overwhelm us. We didn't work as per what worked in the first instalment. We stuck to the storyline and were always true to the subject. I hope we can make three or four more seasons as I am not done with JK yet.

Were any changes made to the script after the I&B Ministry's new regulations?
We completed the shoot much before the new [regulations] came up. We didn't reshoot any part of the show. Frankly, I haven't read the new guidelines yet, so I'm not aware if we've flouted anything.

What is the status of your other projects, Dhaakad and Mission Majnu?
I have completed my portions in Dhaakad, but have some shooting left for Mission Majnu. I am doing another series titled Six Suspects, which is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. I will reunite with Pratik Gandhi [after Scam 1992] on the project.

Also read: Sharib Hashmi on The Family Man 2: There's nothing objectionable in the series