Emraan Hashmi as Aatish: The Antagonist in ‘Tiger 3

Emraan Hashmi is all set to clash with Salman Khan in the upcoming film “Tiger 3.” The film’s trailer has given fans a glimpse of Emraan’s menacing character, and he has now revealed more about his role, including the character’s name, Aatish.

Returning to the Spy Universe

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are making a comeback in the third installment of the popular “Tiger” movie franchise. The film, a part of Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe, sees Salman reprising his role as agent Tiger, also known as Avinash Singh Rathore, and Katrina as Zoya.

Emraan Hashmi Villainous Role as Aatish

Speaking about playing the anti-hero in “Tiger 3,” Emraan stated, “I had an amazing time creating Aatish—a man fueled by rage, willing to go to any length to eliminate Tiger. I play a distinctly different villain, a rarity in Hindi cinema. He is cerebral, with a powerful mind, and wields immense authority across countries to execute his devious plans.” Emraan continued, “He is single-minded in his determination to destroy Tiger, his family, and, in doing so, he aims to eliminate India’s top super-agent. He knows that Tiger will always stand up for India, and he is determined to remove him at any cost. I’m grateful to Maneesh Sharma for guiding me in bringing Aatish to life. It was his vision for the character that convinced me. He helped me shape a character that I am immensely proud of.”

YRF’s Anti-Hero Universe

The YRF Spy Universe includes films like “Pathaan,” “War,” and “Tiger.” Emraan mentioned that playing a ‘YRF anti-hero’ is special to him, and his character was deliberately kept under wraps. He explained, “The anti-heroes of the YRF Spy Universe have always been a trump card. They take you by surprise. Aditya Chopra was clear that he wanted my character to be a surprise as well. So, an elaborate plan was made to keep me under wraps.”

Emraan further added, “I was itching to share details about ‘Tiger 3’ but couldn’t, knowing well that the payoff would be immense when my character is revealed. It was decided to bring the anti-hero into the spotlight with the trailer of ‘Tiger 3,’ and I’m thrilled that people are appreciating my menacing portrayal. Playing anti-heroes is always fun because you get to portray characters who don’t care about rules. They create their own rules. So, I eagerly accepted the opportunity, knowing that I would have the freedom to create a memorable villain.”

Film Release and Direction

The film’s teaser, released earlier, showed Tiger appealing to the people of India to decide if he is a patriot or enemy. “Tiger 3” is set to release on November 12, with hopes to capitalize on the festive and holiday season. The film is directed by Maneesh Sharma.