With Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web streaming on Netflix and the announcement of Yeh Dil Sunn Raha Hai around the corner, actress Zoya Afroz has begun 2026 on a high note. In the crime thriller, Zoya plays Priya Khubchandani — a former flight attendant who goes undercover as an agent for Indian Customs.
The series marks her first collaboration with Emraan Hashmi, and in an exclusive interaction with Zoom, Zoya spoke highly of her co-star, particularly praising his choice to support female-centric storytelling in Haq.
Zoya Afroz on Emraan Hashmi’s versatility and Haq
Emraan Hashmi enjoyed a strong 2025 with performances in Ground Zero and Haq, along with a widely discussed cameo in Aryan Khan’s The Ba**ds of Bollywood*. He also made his Telugu debut with Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG.
Speaking about his range as an actor, Zoya said,
“He’s incredibly versatile. Over the years, he’s explored so many different kinds of roles. What he’s done in Shanghai, The Dirty Picture, and his romantic films — none of them feel repetitive.”
Highlighting his performance in Haq, she added,
“Especially what he achieved in Haq — to embrace a character like that and support a story driven by a woman is remarkable. To convey that narrative and be part of it as a male actor is truly commendable. He’s done an excellent job.”
Zoya also shared her on-set experience, describing Emraan as warm and dedicated.
“He’s very charismatic and brings a lot of positivity to the set. At the same time, he’s deeply committed to his craft. We connected from day one, and I had a wonderful experience working with him. He’s charming both on and off screen.”
On-screen romance in Taskaree
Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, developed by Neeraj Pandey, also stars Sharad Kelkar, Nandish Sandhu, Anurag Sinha, and Amruta Khanvilkar. The series features a subtle romantic arc between Zoya’s Priya and Emraan’s character, Arjun Meena.
However, Zoya clarified that the show does not rely on overt intimacy to convey romance.
“There was no kissing scene in the script — nothing of that sort,” she explained.
“But I loved how the relationship between Priya and Arjun has been portrayed. Romance aankhon mein hai. A lot remains unsaid, and that’s the beauty of it — how deeply the characters care for each other.”
