Emraan Hashmi has shot for some of his portions in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai and is glad that he consented to do the film. Though he admits that initially he was skeptical about signing this Milan Luthria directed film, today he is extremely happy with his decision. Why was he skeptical though? After all this would have been his first bona fide crime thriller? "This was the very reason due to which I had to think a multiple times before saying yes to the film", confesses Emraan, "When I look around, every underworld movie with crime as it's base wants to be a Satya or a Company. Such has been the influence of these Ram Gopal Varma films that they have set a benchmark for movies belonging to this genre. My first question to the makers was - Is Once Upon a Time in Mumbai going to follow the same line or would be aiming at breaking some new grounds?'" Thankfully for Emraan, Milan and writer Rajat Arora (continuing to share a partnership since Taxi No. 9211 and Hat Trick) had conceived their film differently and were ready with their answers. "I was assured that Once Upon a Time in Mumbai was not just different but also aimed at changing the preconceived notions about the way an underworld movie is presented", says a relieved Emraan, "This is something that I have also realised after shooting for bits of the film." Still, with him coming together with Ajay Devgan in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, one can't help but bring in comparisons around similar 'jodi' that was seen in Company when Vivek Oberoi was pitted against Ajay. "Exactly, this too was very much in mind", Emraan nods in agreement here, "Company is still fresh in everyone's memory and as I stated earlier, it has created a benchmark. So yes, with Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, this is the very benchmark we are trying to change. More than that, revealing anything about Ajay or my role would be still too early. So let's wait for a while before we can declare to the world that how different are the two films." Produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai has also been in news for the unconventional casting of Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai. Both the actors have been working extensively on their looks recreate the 70s feel.

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