Randeep Hooda recalls how Saragarhi battle changed him even without release
Actor Randeep Hooda opens up about the deeply personal impact of his preparation for the shelved film ‘Battle of Saragarhi’. He recalled its creation during his session on the third day of Sahitya Aaj Tak in New Delhi.
Randeep Hooda has finally opened up about his long-delayed project ‘Battle of Saragarhi’ and the emotional journey that stayed with him long after the film went off air. Was speaking during his headline session at Sahitya Aaj Tak in New Delhi on Sunday one caste is enoughHuda revealed how preparing for the film changed her personally and spiritually, even though the project never went into production.
“It wasn’t just a role, it became a transformation,” he said. Huda recalled visiting the Golden Temple as part of her research for the character. Before entering the temple, he visited the museum located inside the complex, a moment he described as a turning point. “Reading those stories, seeing those sacrifices – I became emotional,” he shared, “The bravery of the Sikh soldiers stayed with me.”
That experience led to a personal vow. Hooda promised not to cut her hair until the film was completed. For nearly three years, he stuck to that commitment, leaving other work behind and immersing himself in Sikh history and culture. “When I finally had to cut my hair for ‘Extraction,’ I didn’t want to do it,” he said. “I went to the gurudwara and apologised. I told myself I had tried everything,” he said.
Along with preparing for the film, Huda began working closely with Global Six, a volunteer-run organization which she continues to support. He joined the group at the grassroots level in disaster-affected and underserved areas across India, from Kerala and Maharashtra to Punjab, Kashmir and Haryana. “Today, people feel that posting a story or a tweet is enough,” Huda said. He added, “Helping means showing up, or contributing in any way you really can.”
While the ‘Battle of Saragarhi’ never succeeded, Hooda said that the process instilled in him the Sikh philosophy of service. He said, “I was just a medium. The real work was done by the volunteers.”
The actor also reflected on his unusual career path, from studying in Australia and failing in his first year, to doing theater in Mumbai under Naseeruddin Shah, to building a filmography away from traditional mainstream choices. He laughingly recalled, “When I finally told my parents I wanted to be an actor, all they said was, ‘Just don’t be a burden on us in old age.’ Since then, I’ve tried to stand on my own.”
Hooda was last seen in ‘Jatt’, which released in theaters in April 2025.