At the trailer launch of the highly anticipated film Jaat, Randeep Hooda opened up about his role and his experiences working with legendary actor Sunny Deol. In a candid moment, Hooda shared how he almost hesitated to take on the role, but it was the magic of the collaboration that made it all worthwhile.
Hooda reflected on the complexities of his role, stating that in Jaat, being a jaat himself he was not portraying a "Jaat" character, which was a challenge for him. “In the movie Jaat, I was not playing a Jaat, so that was a problem, but that is the beauty of entertainment. If someone else had played the role of a Jaat in this film other than Sunny Paaji, I wouldn’t have done the movie… Sunny Paaji is a childhood hero for all Jaats and all North Indians,” Hooda said with deep respect for his co-star.
Hooda was full of admiration for Deol, describing him as a larger-than-life figure with a magnetic persona. “It was a great pleasure to share screen space with him. He is so sweet and so cool. Thank you, Gopi, for giving me such a wonderful role."
He also spoke about his experience working in the South Indian film industry for the first time, appreciating the respect given to directors' visions by the producers. “One thing I really liked about the South film industry, having worked there for the first time, is that the producers truly respect the vision of the director, and that is something we should all follow in Bollywood,” he remarked, emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking in the South.
Hooda also expressed his gratitude for the diverse opportunities he has had in his career. “I have been fortunate to do all kinds of roles, all kinds of genres, all kinds of industries, whether it's Hollywood, Bollywood, and now I am getting a chance to work in the Telugu industry... I think it's a big boon for me. I am fortunate to get these opportunities,” he said.
When it comes to choosing roles, Hooda explained that it’s all about where he is in his career and what he feels he needs at the time. “As far as choosing the roles goes, it depends on where you are in a film, what are you doing, what is it that you feel you need at that time… So it keeps varying. I have done my 100 percent in all kinds of films. In Jaat, it was taking it up a notch. Thanks to Gopi, it is one of the few times when I have not played the role and have followed the director blindly,” he confessed.
With an impressive ensemble cast and an exciting directorial debut by Gopichand Malineni in Bollywood, Jaat promises to be a high-octane action thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Featuring a star-studded lineup including Sunny Deol, Regina Cassandra, Randeep Hooda, and Vineet Kumar Singh, the film is set to bring a powerful narrative to the screen.
The film is all set to hit the cinemas on 10th April, 2025.