Team Radio City caught up with Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai for an exclusive chat. As the actors gear up for their big release, 'Azhar' we bring you an excerpt from our candid revelry.Q: Emraan, you had a cricket-based film up for release in 2008 when a T20 cricket league was going on. Circa 2016, the scenario hasn't changed. You latest 'Azhar' is apparently not a biopic as Mohammad Azharuddin claims, but is just a representation of a few facts from his life. Your thoughts?Emraan: Yes, I agree that the scenario hasn't changed much but I consent with Azhar Bhai as well. I don't think any biopic is a complete revelation of facts, at least from the way we have treated the genre. It is about Azhar bhai's formidable years as the Indian skipper. We have only dramatized the story in the film for effect, yet we have managed to mellow down the tonality and treatment in terms of dialogue-delivery and performances.Q: What's the catch behind the tagline, 'Love him, hate him, judge him.'?Emraan: We have loved him as a cricketer in the 80's and 90's from the time he started his career to when he came out to captain our team in the early 90's. But then it also speaks about how our adulation turned into dissent when the controversy broke out in his life. Inspite of getting acquitted of all charges in 2012, there is still a section of us who wrong him. We do not look to change opinions through the film, but we want that those who are misinformed and misguided about Azhar bhai know what it was all about.Q: Prachi, suddenly there is a change in the perception that women are not interested in cricket. Do you believe that?Prachi: Well maybe suddenly there are too many good-looking cricket players. laughs But no, I like cricket as much as anyone else does. Not that I follow it religiously, but I watch the important ones like the India vs Pakistan matches.Q: You play Azhar's first wife , Naureen in the film. Have you met her?Prachi: Yes I have on a personal level. She is a very private person who has never come out in the limelight. So I had no research or any data to buy for the preparation of my character. So she personally expressed her desire to see me as she had seen my TV shows before. So when I met her, I did not tell her that I'm playing a role modelled on her but I thought I should let things go with the flow.Q: Emraan how much of the off-screen Azhar have you managed to pull off on-screen?Emraan: When we used to lunch during our sessions, I would watch him closely and observe his mannerisms. Even though I have not managed to pick up the way he talks, I've managed to learn the way he walks. winksQ: When one watches the teaser, one feels that it is not you but Azhar who walks out of the pavilion.Emraan: Yes, I felt the best compliment I received was when Azhar's son came up to me and said that when he watched the trailer, he thought it was his dad who he saw on the screen. That meant a lot to me.Q: The teaser was shot last year, why so?Emraan: We had shot so because we wanted to capture enough curiousity through the intervals and breaks in the T20 matches.Q: Learning to bat like Azhar would have been tough though, tell us about it.Emraan: Yes it was. I had done weight training for years because of which my wrists had become stiff. Whereas to play like Azhar bhai, my hand required fluidity and agility. Infact, he advises youngsters to never get into weight training. That's why I had to do yoga to maintain my fitness, in order to get the way he plays.Q: How much of original footage did you had to go through for this role?Emraan: We did have a few references from the net but a lot of key details cannot be found even if we searched it up the net. So Azhar bhai and our producers really helped us in our collecting lots of facts and figures. Infact, once Azhar bhai got on board to help us with the film, he even shared a documentary on his life with us. He also shared some of his cricketing gear with us.Q: The movie has been extensively shot abroad as well. How easy was that?Emraan: We got the permission to film at the Lords' because of Azhar bhai's contacts. So we've shot at the Lords'. We've also shot at D.Y. Patil stadium and the old Sahara stadium.Q: Prachi, you're teaming up with Emraan after more than five years and people love watching both of you together. Has there been a difference?Prachi: He has a wicked sense of humour, to the point of almost being nasty. When we are shooting a scene, he can crack me up even with a straight face. He's kind of become unbearable to work with, that way. laughsQ: Emraan, do you feel the same?Emraan: Well, she has matured and come of age with this film. The way she has picked up the nuances of Naureen will make you feel that no one could play the character, better than her. She is pretty commendable.Q: Emraan there is always this notion that good music and Emraan Hashmi make a superhit formula. Your comments?Emraan: I don't think, Ive done anything major to take that credit. It's just that the imagery has been created in such a manner that music directors too feel a bit intimidated to bring out good music in my films. Like with 'Azhar' Armaan and Amaal Malik got confirmed at the last minute. And they have delivered fantastic music.Q: You've teamed up with the Malik brothers once again after your hit music video, 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon'. 'Bol do na Zara' is already a chartbuster. So is there a possibility of more music coming from you three?Emraan: I hope so. They are both very talented and mature for their age. I was floored when I first heard 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon' and am very glad that they've composed for the film as well. I hope we collaborate often.Q: The one question that is on everyone's mind is, why Emraan Hashmi is the choice to play Mohammad Azharuddin?Emraan: I'm yet to figure the answer for that myself. Because I wasn't a particularly good cricketer in school so I had my own doubts on how I would play Azhar. I was actually very scared because I had no idea how I would adopt his playing style. But since the movie's focus is on the controversy and his relationships, I knew I was safe that way.Prachi: I'll add to that. There is a certain rawness in Emraan. When you'll watch the film, you'll feel like no one could have pulled off Azhar better than him.Q: Lastly, what is the one message you'd like to tell everyone out there about 'Azhar'?Emraan: This film is inspired by the life and times of Azhar bhai. Whether you're a cricketing fan or not, do watch the film. For those who do not like cricket, there is enough romance and music to take away from the film. It's not just about cricket, it's also the story about a human being behind the glamourous life.Prachi: It will give you an insight of the cricketer's life and it will also be entertaining in every aspect. So do watch it.