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Randeep Hooda got his first big break in 2001 with Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding. Though it wasn’t a lead role it gave him an entry into Bollywood. Almost a decade later his powerful performance in Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai (2010) made him a recognised star. Since then there has been no looking back. From intense dramas to gritty thrillers he built a reputation for diving fearlessly into every character. He also honed his craft in theatre with Naseeruddin Shah’s Motley Theatre Group where stage discipline sharpened his acting edge. How did he prepare for Ranatunga in Jaat? In 2025 Randeep played the menacing Ranatunga in Jaat a performance that won him massive appreciation. To make the character convincing he gained 8 kilos grew his hair long and even deepened his voice. In an interview he revealed “I grew my hair and worked on my body so that Ranatunga would look more dangerous on screen.” The transformation made him stand out as one of the finest villains of the year. What was the challenge in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar? Released in 2024 Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was not just another film for him — it was his directorial debut. Randeep went through a shocking transformation losing 26 kilos for the role of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He admitted “For one and a half years I was extremely weak. I even fell off a horse and twisted my leg. Anything could have happened. My sister Dr. Anjali Hooda took care of my health.” Producer Anand Pandit once revealed that when Randeep first came to the office he weighed 86 kilos. But he got so immersed in the role that within just 18 days he shed 26 kilos. For four months his diet was only one date and a glass of milk daily. How did his family react to this transformation? His sister Anjali shared that their father a surgeon was extremely upset with Randeep’s drastic weight loss. His mother could not hold back her tears. “She said she couldn’t watch him like this turning into just bones” Anjali recalled. What about other physical transformations? Randeep is no stranger to extreme changes. In Do Lafzon Ki Kahani (2016) where he played MMA fighter Suraj Chauhan he bulked up from 77 kilos to 94 kilos building strong muscles. In the same year he shocked everyone again in Sarbjit. For the title role he lost 20 kilos. “I wanted to feel starvation and imprisonment. It was necessary to give my 100 percent” he said in an interview. What about his personal life? In November 2023 Randeep tied the knot with Manipuri actress Lin Laishram. Earlier his name was linked with Sushmita Sen though he always kept his personal life away from unnecessary attention. Why is Randeep Hooda different from the rest? Unlike many actors Randeep doesn’t just act — he becomes. He risks his health sacrifices comfort and lives dangerously close to his characters. Be it Ranatunga’s menace Savarkar’s fragility or Sarabjit’s pain he has given performances that stay etched in memory. Born on 20 August 1976 Randeep Hooda remains Bollywood’s man of extremes — a performer who dares to go where few can.