'Highway', 'Sarbjit', 'Extraction': Movies that prove Randeep Hooda is a versatile actor

One of Bollywood's most underrated yet powerful actors, Randeep Hooda, has continuously amazed the audience with his remarkable range. He fits into every character with ease, whether it's an explosive thriller, an intense biographical drama, or an emotional drama. On his birthday, we celebrate his cinematic journey through movies that prove his true versatility and talent.

‘Highway’ follows Veera (Alia Bhatt), a young bride-to-be, who is kidnapped by the hardened criminal, Mahabir (Randeep Hooda), a day prior to her wedding. As they begin their journey across different cities, Veera finds unexpected freedom and self discovery in captivity. Randeep Hooda shines as Mahabir Bharti, a rugged criminal with a dark past. Initially Mahabir kidnaps Veera with rough cruelty but as the journey progresses, his hard exterior cracks and the inner vulnerability is shown. Ranbir captured the complexities of Mahabir beautifully, making the audience fall in love with a character that started as a villain but ended up being a tragic hero.

‘Sarbjit’ is a biographical drama based on the life of Sarbjit Singh, an Indian farmer who mistakenly crosses the India-Pakistan border and is imprisoned for decades. In this emotionally charged movie, Randeep Hooda plays the role of Sarbjit Singh, an Indian farmer who is mistakenly held captive by Pakistan for decades. Hooda physically transformed himself, shedding kilos of body weight to embody a weak and frail man who has lost all hope in captivity. But beyond his appearance, the actor delivered an authentic performance that made the audience feel every ounce of pain, loss and harshness that he endured.

‘Laal Rang’ is based on real-life incidents related to the illegal blood trade racket in Haryana, India. The movie is set in Karnal, Haryana, and explores the world of blood banks, donors, and the illegal trade of blood. Randeep Hooda played the role of Shankar Malik, a charming yet morally grey man, running an illegal blood bank business in Haryana. With a perfect Haryanvi accent, rustic charm and emotional depth, Hooda made the character feel both menacing and empathetic. His friendship with Rajesh was also a noticeable part of the movie.

‘Rang Rasiya’ portrays the painter Raja Ravi Varma, played by Randeep Hooda, whose bold art challenged 19th-century societal norms. The film delves into his passion, struggles and controversial depictions of women in mythological themes. Hooda plays Raja Ravi Verma, the revolutionary painter who blended the Indian traditions with European styles. He brought passion, intensity and vulnerability in the role, making the role feel real and authentic.

‘Extraction’ is an action thriller about Tyler Rake, a fearless mercenary who is given the task to rescue the kidnapped son of an Indian crime lord. Set against the backdrop of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the film follows his dangerous mission filled with intense combat, emotional struggles, and redemption, as he risks everything to protect the boy. Randeep Hooda plays Saju, a former Special Forces soldier and henchman. While initially ruthless, his character's human side is revealed as he's driven to protect his own family. Hooda's brilliant portrayal of Saju's complex and morally grey journey earned him international recognition.