Actor Randeep Hooda opens up about his film choices and how he has maintained a different image than most of his peers in the film industry. The actor was speaking at the India Today Mind Rocks 2024 Youth Summit in Bengaluru. Randeep also praised Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapoor for their dancing skills and how they have created a league of their own where they are comfortable being a non-dancer.

The actor, who was last seen in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, spoke about not doing films just to serve meaningless entertainment to the audience. He spoke about the importance of telling stories that leave the audience with some thoughts. Randeep said, “I always did not want to do just showy films. In India and everywhere, we are looking for entertainment where we don’t have to apply our brains too much. But, I have been fortunate enough to choose films at the cost of not doing enough work – out of my 24 years of experience as a professional actor, I have not been on a set for 11 years. So, either I am waiting for something meaningful to happen or I am preparing for something.”

He said, “Cinema is changing, but the underlying essence of cinema is entertainment and I think we should look at it that way. I have been a part of films that are both meaningful and entertaining, but I don’t think you can preach to people through cinema. Nobody wants to hear a lecture. Whatever you can tell them through entertainment, comedy and fun is the only thing the audience takes with them.”

The actor, who takes pride in being rooted in his Haryanvi culture, highlighted the importance of finding your own calling. When asked to dance a bit on stage, he declined and said, “That’s why I prefer to do transformational acting, or method acting, where you are getting into the truth of a character. For example, I have played many cop roles, but I haven’t played a cardboard cop wearing a uniform. They are humans who are cops. That’s where you make a difference. And because I wasn’t good at dancing, I chose to be good at it. So, why compete with Hrithik, Shahid and Tiger because they dance so well? They can’t do what I can. Find your USP.”

Randeep elaborated on his idea of ​​choosing films. He said that he believes in working less but putting energy into good stories. The actor explained, “In Bollywood, there is only one structure that one can follow. After spending a few years in Bollywood, I realised that I wanted to do more than playing myself in every film. I did not find it interesting at all. I was bored of myself. I like to choose roles where I can understand the truth of the character. There is no need for any defined or popular category of hero. A hero is someone who follows himself and finds his own calling, makes his own path and is courageous enough to face failures and keep learning.”

Randeep also spoke about censorship and how his belief in changing ideologies has brought him to where he is in life today.