I don’t look back, I look forward, says Randeep Hooda

Otherwise known for his brooding charm, we caught Randeep Hooda in a pleasantly chatty mood as he spoke about a bunch of things — how he views success, why he is more contemplative than he’d like to be, not relying on his personal life to hit headlines anymore and much more...

What about your Laal Rang character appealed to you It is based on true accounts of one of the most heinous crime in the world—illegal blood trade. But the way (director) Afzal packaged the story and made it into a story of betrayal, friendship and unrequited love while making my character so utterly flamboyant made me say yes. I had never played such a character before. The Haryanvi humour in it is killer too! Besides, I’ve always been a sucker for Hindustani stories which are based ‘somewhere’. A lot of Bollywood cinema is not based anywhere and hangs in a vacuum. The opportunity of going and shooting in Haryana was a big plus. I have spoken so many languages and dialects, but the day I was speaking my own language, I was conscious. I haven’t played such a dabangg, mast maula, flamboyant character ever.

Isn't Randeep mast maula and flamboyant in real life No yaar! I have done so many depressing roles that subconsciously, I have retained parts them. From playing an alcoholic in Jannat-2 to even Sarbjit — it affected me a lot. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I didn’t spend 22 years of my life in prison, so stop being gloomy. But that’s what I like about my job too — to experience different lives without the real life repercussions; your brain sometimes doesn’t understand that. So would you consciously avoid dark roles now I hope I don’t keep getting unbelievably extraordinary scripts, because then I will have to keep doing them. Do you think you haven’t got your due yet I feel it all the time. But you have to tell yourself that the world doesn’t owe you anything. Then it all comes down to normal. That’s why I like sports so much. Sports are result-based and films are opinion-based. Opinion can be manipulated. How do you look back at your journey so far I don’t look back, I look forward. Having said that, it has been full of heartbreaks, success and failures. I think I have balanced it well but it's a constant struggle. It's like riding on a tiger - you cannot get off it, otherwise it will eat you. You have to keep moving forward. I truly believe what Naseer bhai told me once: there is a monastery in the mountains where monks make really intricate structures of sand, look at them, destroy them and make another one. That's the philosophy I follow — do it, get it over with and move on.

Do you think you have made some bad choices No. But there are one or two that I look back at and cringe. I don't consider myself a success, but I am in a better place than I was yesterday. How is life outside films I am an avid sportsman, a serious competitor. This time I wasn’t able to compete (in polo) because my horses were not fit and I myself am not very riding fit. I didn’t go for the Nationals or for the Delhi Horse Show because I didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of everybody. But last to last year I got seven National medals in one meet — that’s something I am very proud of.

Earlier your personal life was spoken about, now it doesn’t make it to the news — have you become smarter No. I just have things to talk about now. I don’t have to rely on my personal life. I believe you had back then also No, I didn’t. Now there is sports, movies and the characters I play. My personal life is not necessary. I don’t think my personal life should be of consequence to anybody. You have refused a lot of films lately, why so I have refused a lot of films because they are repeating me. I will not lie, it’s not that a lot of producers are lining up outside my door but I try and choose the most interesting part of what I get. I am not a fraternity child, so I don't have people getting me roles.

As an outsider to the industry, do you think it's difficult to make it big here It is difficult because of the norms and ways of the industry, which you have to learn. I learnt and unlearnt them because you have got to be who you are. I had a period where I had no work for three years and that's the time I didn't do Rang De Basanti, Rock On and all these movies. But now I am fine. Had it not been for those misses, I would have gone on another trajectory. My struggles have paid off. I am a better human being and a better actor, I think (laughs). I have moments of unhappiness but something as wonderful as Laal Rang comes along and I am happy.