Sweethearts Candy Blog's

This is not just a sensational headline, written to grab the maximum eyeballs, nor are we resorting to yellow journalism. This is a plain fact, that has been accepted by none other than the very much in love couple Emraan Hashmi and wife Parveen Hashmi.

In an exclusive joint interview, given to a reputed International magazine, the couple comes out in the open about their beautiful relationship. They talked about almost everything, right from their courtship days, how Emraan, true to his intense on-screen lover image, stalked and wooed Parveen and kept persuading her till she finally said "yes", right down to their life after marriage!

Well, we all know that Parveen is quite a possessive wife and Emraan has said many times that he will stop kissing as he has a fight with his wife every time he is required to do a kissing scene.

But what came as a shock was the revelation that Parveen has slapped (!) Emraan quite a few times for kissing on-screen, during trial shows of the concerned movies. And this was revealed in a very light hearted manner by the couple.

Though on many previous occasions Emraan had given statements that he would stop kissing on-screen after marriage, but he could not stick to his promise, so strong was his image. In fact quite a few films in which Emraan did not kiss failed to set the cash registers ringing.

Of course, it is another matter that the films were too bad, but nonetheless the serial kisser is now riding high (despite a lovingly furious wife!) with back to back success via Jannat and Raaz-The Mystery Continues...

In his six year long career so far, Emraan Hashmi has given quite a few hits at the box office. Still with each release of his, he has been required to answer his critics and prove his detractors wrong.

In the meanwhile, he has continued to earn a loyal fan base for himself which started from B and C centers, reached the single screen audiences and has now finally seen even multiplex audience warming up to his popularity and screen presence, something that has been witnessed in Awarapan, Jannat and now Raaz - The Mystery Continues.

"You tell me, for how long do I have to continue to prove to the world about my presence in the industry", questions Emraan Hashmi who is experimenting with his roles and look in each of his films, "Between Gangster and Awarapan, there was a phase in my career when there wasn't much happening my career.

My films were not working and it was actually a harrowing phase. This is when I made a conscious call to reinvent myself."

And reinvent he did with Awarapan that brought him together with Mohit Suri, his friend and director with whom he had grown up since childhood and also worked with in Zeher and Kalyug.

"It was heartbreaking to see Awarapan not working. It may sound clichéd but I gave my heart, body and soul to the film. Those who saw the film loved it but then destiny had other plans.

It didn't work commercially at the box office but for my standing as an actor, it really benefited a lot. Finally, it seemed that the industry had started taking me seriously", remembers Emraan.

It was a one year long wait before Jannat released in 2007. The movie took a bumper opening at the box office and the floodgates opened for Emraan Hashmi who saw his biggest opening film till then.

"I have somehow stuck to my stand of doing only solo films, until and unless something exceptional comes up, and though it is big risk, it also translates into big benefits", says Emraan.

Though the success of Jannat was a huge shot in the arm for Emraan Hashmi, cynics were still not willing to give Emraan his due by calling the film's success a fluke.

"You can't help that, can you", asks Emraan Hashmi who is still doing majority of films with Bhatts, "I know for sure where my fan base resides and as long as they are happy, my producers are happy, I am getting my market price, heroines are willing to work with him and my wife isn't questioning me every morning if I would kiss for camera or not, I am happy", winks Emraan!

Nevertheless, his wife Parveen would certainly not have any questions for Emraan after the release of Raaz - The Mystery Continues and there are two reasons for that - a) The film has taken the biggest ever opening for an Emraan Hashmi starrer and b) It is Adhyayan Suman and not Emraan Hashmi who locks lips with Kangna.

Laughs Emraan, "Well, the film has worked even without a kiss from me so I guess the jinx is finally broken."

He adds on a serious note, "At least now do I have the right to feel successful? This is my second straight film that has taken a solid opening.

Even otherwise, I have constantly delivered successful films during last 6 years - Murder, Zeher, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Kalyug, Aksar, Gangster, Jannat and now Raaz - The Mystery Continues. Agar kuch logon ko yeh ek long successful winning streak nahi lagti toh I can't help it. And actually, I don't care."

Some distributors have even gone to the extent of billing him as mini-Akshay Kumar in the making; someone who can guarantee a solid opening with every release of his.

"Arrey yaar don't get me into that trap. I am not commenting anything on this. Akshay has been around for close to two decades and done a lot in his career. Still, you can't say much for the audience. We just saw what happened to Chandni Chowk To China", he says with caution.

"Yes, what I am confident though is that I would continue to choose the best of the scripts coming my way. I won't let down my audience; that's a promise.

After that it is all destiny and luck", he signs off as he continues to make rounds across the country promoting Raaz - The Mystery Continues which is now all set to surpass the business of his last success Jannat and hence turn out to be the biggest money spinner of his career.

All excited about his next release, Raaz 2 The Myster Continues, Emraan talks to us about his role in the film, his fears and the fact that he won't have any lip locks in the movie.

Role in the film - I play a painter whose name is Prithvi and he can foresee the future of a model Nandita played by Kangana Ranaut. And in my character the audiences will find different grey shades which surely can be spooky. I'm quite excited that finally I'm the part of a horror film. I had always wished that my debut film should be a horror film but didn't happen.

What scares Emraan - Believe it not but I am scared of kisses in the films that I have to do. Also I am scared of the dark so whenever I sleep I always have one dim light on and I am also scared of empty corridors after watching The Shining.

No kissing scenes in Raaz 2 - I don't have any kissing scenes and that's why I'm feeling very relaxed. All the kissing scenes are done by Adhyayan Suman!

On his new lean look in Raaz 2 - Mohit told me to reduce my weight as it was the requirement of the character and so I gave up on all junk food, switched from aata to nachni rotis and gave up bread completely.

Six packs - I am not much of a fitness freak and hate this six pack - eight pack business. I would like to admit that I am a very lazy person when it comes to body building. But I feel all this is just a fad. It is okay if one has to do for a particular role otherwise its silly to flaunt it every now and then in films.

Rating: ***1/2

The team behind Raaz - The Mystery Continues have often clarified that it's not a sequel to RAAZ, one of the most interesting cinematic experiences, besides being the biggest Hit of that year. Yet, you cannot but draw parallels with the first film of the franchise.

Horror as a genre hasn't been tapped to the optimum in India. We've witnessed spooky fares in the past and some of them have succeeded in making you break into a cold sweat (BHOOT stands tall in this list). Last year's PHOONK and 1920 were scary movies as well.

There's tremendous curiosity to watch Raaz - The Mystery Continues, but does it scare the living daylights out of you? Fortunately, yes!

The story (Mohit Suri) is absorbing and Mohit treats the subject like a veteran, as if he knows the genre very well. There're moments that make your heart beat faster, you watch the events with eyes and jaws wide open.

Sure, there're blemishes as well, but they don't overpower the plusses or make you change your opinion about the film. While the beginning and the middle of the film is engrossing, it's the end that could've been better thought of.

Wanna get scared? Wanna get goose pimples? Buy the ticket for Raaz - The Mystery Continues pronto. It lives up to the hype and expectations completely.

A brooding artist Prithvi (Emraan Hashmi) experiences mysterious and distressing visions about Nandita (Kangna Ranaut), a woman he has never met, while he paints on canvas. Intrigued by these visions, Prithvi tracks her down and warns her that these are not merely paintings of her, but accidents that are waiting to happen.

At first, Nandita refuses to believe him and dismisses him as an eccentric stalker. However, the striking resemblance between Prithvi's paintings and the near-death incidents in her life is hard to ignore.

Now, one of Prithvi's paintings has revealed her as dead. The only way she can change her fate is to unravel this mystery with his help, at the risk of alienating herself from her boyfriend, Yash (Adhyayan Suman). But he refuses to believe in Prithvi's premonitions. Will Nandita risk her love and her life to unravel this mystery?

Most of us have heard, witnessed or perhaps had a first-hand experience of supernatural. The present-day generation may, perhaps, term it as wild imagination or hallucination, while the believers may have their point of view. Mohit and screenplay writer Shagufta Rafique's characters in Raaz - The Mystery Continues are believers and non-believers, both.

Mohit smartly builds up the atmosphere. Sample these: Emraan and Kangna's first encounter at a mall and minutes later, inside an elevator; the New Year bash when Kangna is 'attacked' by spirits; Kangna's experience in her bathtub and also when she looks at the mirror; Kangna almost jumping off a cliff; the highpoint sequence, when angry bulls attack Emraan and Kangna. Incredible sequences all! Mohit has handled the most difficult portions with panache.

However, the entire flashback part, towards the pre-climax, is not as convincing. The ending too could've been better in terms of writing, although Mohit has filmed it exceptionally well.

Mohit's choice of the subject as also the actors is right. This is, without doubt, his finest effort to date. Shagufta's screenplay is watertight at most times. Like always, the Bhatts come up with a lilting musical score and at least two songs -- 'Soniyo' (Raju Singh) and 'Maahi' (Sharib-Toshi) -- are first-rate compositions. Ravi Walia's cinematography is up to the mark. The effects are impressive.

On the acting front, both Emraan and Kangna vie for top honours. Emraan is excellent. He conveys a lot through facial expressions and that's the sign of a proficient actor. He's just getting better and better with every film. Kangna is top notch.

After FASHION, this one's another power-packed performance from the actress. Adhyayan Suman is super-confident and registers a strong impact, especially towards the climax. He shows promise. Jackie Shroff is quite okay in a brief role.

On the whole, Raaz - The Mystery Continues is rich in the horror quotient and that is one of its major USPs, besides the highly competent performances by its principal cast and a lilting musical score.

At the box-office, this one will continue the winning streak of Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films. The 4-day weekend (Monday, January 26 in a holiday) will only cement its status further. Go for it!

Emraan Hashmi has great hopes from 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues'. Not just the film brings him back with Mohit Suri after 'Awarapan', 'Kalyug' and 'Woh Lamhe', it also sees him in yet another Bhatt film where music always plays in integral part of the narrative.

After a hardcore drama 'Jannat', which proved to be a superhit at the box office and was also a huge musical success, Emraan Hashmi promises that his next 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' will raise the bar for horror flicks.

Not just would it give Indian audience something to see on the big screen that has never been witnessed before for a Bollywood flick, it would also scare the living daylights of all in the auditorium.

"Mohit Suri is someone who believes in making realistic and dramatic films. For the first time he has gone all out in making an out and out commercial horror film.

This is one genre that he hasn't been exposed before and this is why he has worked extra hard on the subject", replies Emraan when questioned around Mohit's progression from 'Zeher' to 'Kalyug' to 'Woh Lamhe' to 'Awarapan' and now 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues'.

How exactly has Mohit moved on?

"Well, the sheer manner in which he has handled the subtext of 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' is superb. He has only got better and better! The film has allowed him a lot of dramatic space and to add to that, due to his exposure to some classics from horror genre, he has played around with visuals and sound", justifies Emraan.

Demonstrating his fondness for Mohit both as a friend and a professional, Emraan says, "The pace and the look of the film is extraordinary and he has grown over the past couple of years. I can say this because I have seen this right in front of my eyes since the days of 'Zeher'."

While Emraan is indeed excited about working in his first ever horror flick, he also mentions that the music of the film is better than the first in the series - 'Raaz'! Whenever the name 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues', comparisons with 'Raaz' (that had some fantabulous score by Nadeem Shravan), are inevitable.

"That's bound to happen and we were quite tense as well since the original music was so popular", Emraan gets candid here, "Nadeem Sharvan had made history with 'Raaz' so we had to be on par with it at least, if not better than that."

He has another point of view as well, "Moreover, the competition was not just with 'Raaz' but also number of my own films as well as Vishesh Films that have always boasted of great music. It's a pretty decent list in fact and we all are very proud of it.

Thankfully, each of the composers for 'Raaz - The Mystery Continues' has done a fabulous job with the film's music."

Tell him that songs like 'Mahi Ve' and 'O Jaana' are already shooting up the charts and Emraan says with a smile, "We waited for a long time to get the best tracks and their current popularity has proven once again that the score will live on for years!"