Actor Randeep Hooda has revealed that his ego led him to reject a role in one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films, Rang De Basanti. Speaking during the promotions of his latest release Jatt, where he stars alongside Sunny Deol, Hooda candidly shared how he turned down the opportunity to be part of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s 2006 cult classic. The role in question was that of Karan Singhania, also known as Bhagat Singh — a pivotal character ultimately portrayed by Siddharth. The film, which starred an ensemble cast including Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, and Sharman Joshi, is widely considered a landmark in modern Indian cinema.
“Because of my ego, that film slipped through my fingers,” Hooda confessed in an interview. “If I had done that movie, I would be in a different league today. I had given an audition, and they liked it too. Sometimes Rakeysh Mehra would show up at my place drunk, driving his car, and say, ‘Do it, man, do the film!’” At the time, Hooda said he was heavily influenced by the only two people he trusted in the industry — filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and his then-girlfriend. “It was my girlfriend who told me not to do a small role in a film. Later, Ram Gopal Varma said the same thing. He told me, ‘I’m planning to cast you in a lead role, and you want to stand behind Aamir Khan on a poster?’” He said, “My Jatt ego kicked in too, and I said I won’t stand behind Aamir. Just like that, I also turned down Rock On. I’ve always worked with different kinds of producers and directors rather than the usual people in the industry. Maybe that’s why my growth has been slow.”
While Hooda has carved out a respectable space for himself in Indian cinema with powerful performances in films like Highway, Sarbjit, and Extraction, the actor’s reflections show a rare moment of vulnerability — and a glimpse into the choices that could have shaped a very different career path.
Also Read: Actress Vaishnavi Gowda Gets Engaged to IAF Officer Ankool Mishra (Photos)
As Rang De Basanti continues to be remembered as a revolutionary film both in content and impact, Hooda’s revelation adds another layer to the film’s legacy — a reminder of how ego, advice, and timing can change the course of a career.
Randeep Hooda’s Recent Work:Right now, Randeep can be seen in the action-thriller Jaat. In addition to Sunny Deol and Regina Cassandra, the film, which was directed by Gopichand Malineni, also features supporting performances from Saiyami Kher, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, and Vineet Kumar Singh. Randeep has been praised for his portrayal as a villain.