Randeep Hooda revealed recently during a conversation that Aamir Khan’s Rang De Basanti was offered to him but he refused to star in it due to his ‘Jaat arrogance’. He was approached to play the role of the revolutionary Bhagat Singh in the film which eventually went to actor Siddharth.
Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra on his podcast, Randeep said, “If I would have done Rang De Basanti, I would have come in a different league. I gave the audition and I liked it. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (director) would come to me, sometimes driving drunk, and he would ask me ‘kar le kar le picture karle.’ I asked him to drive safely.”
He added, “I wanted to do that film but during that time, Ram Gopal Varma told me, ‘I am thinking of casting you in lead role in D and you will go and stand behind Aamir in the poster.’ Meri Jaat akad nikal aai (My Jaat arrogance showed up) and I said, ‘I won’t stand behind Aamir.’ That happened and I left Rock On!! (2008) also for similar reasons.”
Randeep reflected on how he chose to do niche roles as it appealed to him more. “So, I have always worked with a little different kind of filmmakers and producers and not with industry insiders, maybe that’s why my growth was slow. I used to think I am enough and that craft is everything but it is not the case,” the actor said.
He was recently seen playing the antagonist in Sunny Deol’s actioner Jaat, which released in theatres on April 10.