Randeep Hooda vs Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty, Naseeruddin Shah – the SHELVED film of Ram Gopal Varma that never got made; Randeep spills the beans: “I was to play the super-villain with the whole film industry on the other side”

Randeep Hooda had an interesting conversation with Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day on various aspects of his life and career. At the very beginning, he spoke about what happened after he worked on his debut film, Monsoon Wedding (2001) and his major film as a lead actor, D (2005).

Randeep began by saying, “Ram Gopal Varma had cast me in a movie called Ek. I was to play the super-villain with the whole film industry on the other side. It was about a man who came to Mumbai and set off bombs in the city, leading to exodus. The film never got made.”

When asked who was playing the good guys, he replied, “It had Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Suniel Shetty, Naseeruddin Shah and other popular actors of that time. One day, I asked him, ‘Is this film happening?’. He said, ‘No, it’s not. But you don’t do any other movie. I’ll find a role for you and launch you’. I was on a three-year salary, like a studio system. I was paid for not doing any other work!”

Randeep revealed, “I asked him, ‘How will I pay my bills?’. He asked, ‘How much is your expense a month?’. Maine badha-chadha ke bola, ‘Rs. 35,000’. He said, ‘Done’. Then I told myself, ‘Usse accha pachaas (Rs. 50,000) maang leta’ (laughs)! On the first of every month, I would turn up at his office and collect my cheque to do nothing!”

Ram Gopal Varma offered him some films made under his banner but they never materialized. Randeep said, “Shimit Amin had come to me and offered the rookie cop’s role in Ab Tak Chhappan (2004). We met at Barista in Versova. I told Shimit, ‘I’d rather do Nana Patekar’s role’!”

Randeep continued, “One day, I was summoned by Ramu. He said, ‘T-shirt utaaro’. I always had a good physique and I removed my T-shirt. I also threw a lot of attitude. I told my then-girlfriend about it. She scolded me and said, ‘You should be more polite’. So, the next day, I met Ramu again and was all smiles and without attitude. Ramu remarked, ‘I liked you more last time’! I immediately changed myself.”

He further said, “I got cast in many films like Ek Hasina Thi (2004), Naach (2004) etc. Ramu would offer me a role and told me to meet him the next day (to discuss the role more). I couldn’t sleep the whole night (in excitement). The next day, early in the morning, he would tell me (that I was no longer doing that part)! This stop-start thing happened many times with Ramu (laughs).”

Randeep then exulted, “Finally, Vishram Sawant offered me D. He was also a good photographer. He did a photoshoot with me. He was impressed with Satya (1998). When Ramu saw my pictures, he said, ‘Let’s make D, a prequel to Company (2002).’”

Also Read: Randeep Hooda pays tribute to his father on Father’s Day: “He is my hero, my guiding light”

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