Rang De Basanti to Dabangg: Films that Randeep Hooda rejected

Randeep Hooda is a Bollywood star, who is known for his screen presence, impressive filmography and going to great lengths for his roles. However, did you know that the actor passed on several opportunities to star in Blockbuster movies during his initial years in Bollywood? Openly reflecting on his decisions, Randeep expressed his regret for letting go of certain roles, suggesting that accepting them might have accelerated his journey to success. He also observed that his preference for working with a wide range of filmmakers and producers, often outside the mainstream, may have contributed to his more gradual ascent in the industry. Let's explore some of the films that Randeep rejected that went on to become box office hits.

Randeep Hooda has openly stated that he turned down the role of Bhagat Singh in this critically acclaimed film due to his "Jaat ego." At the time, he had been offered a lead role in D and felt that taking a supporting role alongside Aamir Khan would be a step-down in his career. He even famously said that he wouldn't "stand behind Aamir on the poster." He now considers this a significant missed opportunity.

While not definitively confirmed by Randeep himself, reports suggest he was considered for the lead role of Robin Hood Pandey in the first Dabangg film, which ultimately went to Salman Khan. It's speculated that either scheduling conflicts or a preference for a different type of character might have prompted him to turn down the role in the action-comedy.

'Aag'

Randeep Hooda was initially considered for the iconic role of Gabbar Singh in Aag, but he declined the role as he felt apprehensive about being compared to the legendary performer and actor Amjad Khan, who portrayed the same role in the blockbuster film Sholay. The role was then given to Amitabh Bachchan.

Randeep Hooda in a conversation with IndiaToda, admitted to have rejected multiple Hollywood films before his appearance in the Netflix film Extraction as a parallel lead alongside Chris Hemsworth. He stated that the reason he politely declined the roles was because he found that the characters were being ridiculed and had a very stereotypical outlook towards the subcontinent.