Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi has finally spoken out about veteran Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh’s recent claims that he was ‘rude’ and ‘dismissive’ on the sets of their 2008 film Jannat.

Addressing the controversy in an interview with Indian Express, Emraan dismissed the allegations as ‘bizarre’ and a result of a misunderstanding.

Speaking about the issue, Emraan expressed his amusement at the matter resurfacing after nearly 17 years. He said, "It’s bizarre! I was 20-something then, and he is not my age, so we were never friends. I didn’t hang out with him, but I don’t remember anything like what he is saying happening."

The Jannat actor further suggested that Javed Sheikh might have misinterpreted their interaction, which has now snowballed into unnecessary drama. He added, "I don’t know what Javed sahab took back with him, but it is definitely something he has held on to for 16-17 years. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a giant comedy of errors that has snowballed into something I know nothing about."

A few days ago, Javed Sheikh appeared on a Ramadan Transmission, where he recalled feeling disrespected by Emraan Hashmi on the Jannat sets. According to Javed, when he flew to South Africa for the film’s shoot, Emraan greeted him with a ‘cold’ handshake and turned his face away. Comparing his experience to working with Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, Javed admitted he was hurt by Emraan’s behavior. In response, he took ‘soft revenge’ by refusing to approach Emraan for rehearsals, insisting the younger actor come to him instead.

Despite the controversy, Emraan Hashmi is focused on his upcoming film Ground Zero, set to release on April 25, 2025. Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar, the film stars Sai Tamhankar and Mukesh Tiwari and is inspired by a real-life BSF operation. Emraan will be seen portraying a BSF Deputy Commandant leading a high-stakes national security mission.