Fridays are not going to rule my life forever: Randeep Hooda

Randeep Hooda is busier than ever, with a number of films in hand, but what bothers the actor is that he cannot find more time to devote to the stage. Though he is happy with his Bollywood innings, he is more interested in satiating the artiste within him than looking forward to a bumper box office on Fridays. We caught up with a candid Randeep in the city recently.
I’m an artiste, not a commodity
Randeep’s been acting on stage before entering Bollywood, and the actor is keen on taking up direction in theatre.“There is a sense of purity in theatre which always attracts me. Deep down, I feel I am more of an artist, than a commodity, which Bollywood turns you into. I want to strike a balance. I have directed plays in school. I’ve kind of adapted the book Walk In The Woods into a play, which stars Naseeruddin Shah and is directed by Ratna Pathak Shah. I think I’ve got to branch out on my own now,” he says.
Fridays WON’t rule my life
Even after making his debut with Monsoon Wedding in 2001, Randeep had to struggle for several years before he could land good roles. The actor considers Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai (2010) as the beginning of a new chapter in his career. “Despite having no connections in Bollywood, I am very fortunate that I could begin a second innings after being written off. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I’m getting great film work, also, but there is something very personal about theatre. There is an instant gratification. The bastardisation of an artiste into a commodity is something which I don’t want to happen to me. We were doing George Bernard Shaw’s Arms And The Man last year, directed by Naseeruddin Shah, but it got shut down because of people’s dates. When we talk about casting me in another play, he says, ‘Your hands are too full with films’. I’m chock-a-block with film work, but somewhere deep down, I know Fridays are not going to rule my life forever. There is more to life than that. I keep myself busy with horses, theatre and films. I want to have a fruitful life, than just waiting for Fridays, which is quite sad actually. I’m going to be acting all my life. But, while doing that, I will try to avoid the trappings of fame.”
Horses are very meditative
Randeep is building a polo team of his own, and was in Gurgaon to look at horses. “I’m going to start a polo team with my friend, and we’re trying to collect as many horses as we can. You have to find time for things you love. I find horses very meditative; they don’t know whether my movies are hits or flops. They treat me equally either way; it is a very humbling, son-of-the-soil experience.”
Film’s title changed
His film on the 1986 jailbreak was earlier called Bad, but Randeep says that it is no longer the title of the movie. “We are looking for a new title, we are having a contest within the unit to find one. The film is on the 1986 jailbreak, in which Charles Sobhraj also played a role, and where Amod Kanth was the investigating officer. It’s in the Jackie Brown kind of thriller space. We have completed three schedules, in Udaipur, Goa and in Delhi. I am not a part of the last one. After that, we are going to finish up the filming in Mumbai and Bangkok. It is interesting to play Charles; I’ve tried to retain as much as I can of him, but the film is actually about Amod Kanth, and I just play a character in it,” says Randeep.
Salman is a great guy
Three of his films, Ungli, Shooter and Highway are in post-production. “I will soon begin shooting for Kick. I have a real soft corner for Salman (Khan); he is great guy. Kick is going to be an out-and-out commercial film. I am very grateful to be a part of it. I love doing all kinds of films. A movie is a mass consumption product. I have got no delusions about being niche. I don’t want to be niche. Though in the earlier part of my career I was into niche cinema, doing independent films – and I do have a revolutionary bent of mind – but you cannot make a change from outside, you have to be a part of it,” he says.