Emraan's birthday gift

Emraan Hashmi thrilled to receive an electric mosquito-zapping racquet on his birthday

People have been known to get stranger things. Emraan Hashmi’s gift was more commonplace. Yesterday, the actor joined the ranks of director Farah Khan when he was gifted an electric mosquito- zapping racquet on his birthday by one of his friends.

Says Emraan excitedly, “Yes, I did get a mosquito-zapping racquet from one of my friends, Varsha, and am very excited about it.

Though I don’t have mosquitoes in my Bandra apartment, they are great fun to have, apart from being addictive. Every time a mosquito gets hit by the racquet it makes a crackling noise. I love that noise! I am planning to carry it to my shoots and to discotheques and restaurants as it will create quite a noise there.”

It’s a most unusual birthday gift to have. Laughs Emraan, “I had told Varsha that this was what I wanted for my birthday. It was on my birthday list and the best gift that I have had so far!”

It surpasses wife Parveen’s gift too a dinner paid by her at the Grand Hyatt on Sunday night. “Yes, even that,” says Emraan who took his buddies out yesterday night for dinner.

The birthday boy spent half the day shooting important scenes for Jannat at Madh Island. “I was so tired by the time I came home ended up cutting five chocolates cakes including two cakes on the set. I couldn’t eat any of them as I am not fond of cakes. Also cakes screw up a day’s worth of cardio.”

But apart from his mosquito racquet, Emraan has gifted himself video game CDs. “I’m a game fanatic and have Playstations and xBoxes. My favorite game is Burnout. I am not a gift person I don’t like getting or giving gifts. But yes, apart from video games and consoles, I am an accessories person.

I love to collect watches. My two favourites are a Breitling and a Panerai. I like chunky watches and so does my dad. He has gifted me lots of watches. I also collect leather wristbands bought from the road.”
His next release Jannat is round the corner. What’s his wish for 2008? “Lots of hit films!”

Upala KBR, Mid-Day