Randeep Hooda

Brings His Subtle Spell

A man of few words and many facets, Randeep Hooda carries the aura of a person whose life is spent at the centre of art and culture. In this case, perception and reality are perfectly aligned. Read on as our suave November muse gets real about his changing goals, working with John Cena, his traditional Manipuri wedding, and more.

Photography by Tejas Nerurkar; Styling by Anisha Gandhi & Rochelle D'sa; Makeup by Renuka Pillai; Hairstyling by Pankaj Chaudhari; Artist Reputation Management by Hardly Anonymous; Creative Direction by Arthi Medithi; Words by Kajol Shah

Randeep had long secured his place in the pantheon of actors celebrated for their craft. And in 2024, he further solidified his status as a virtuoso with Swatantrya Veer Savarkar — a film he directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in as the eponymous freedom fighter. “When I dive deeper into a story and realise what it takes to make it believable, that's when the transformation begins,” he shares on a fine mid-monsoon afternoon, casually sipping on coconut water — a disposition unfamiliar to him during the making of the movie. “I was so immersed that it sometimes felt like Savarkar himself was directing the movie. I even began drafting short stories, he was a prolific writer.” He admits. A fractured knee and a drastic weight loss of thirty kilos became the corporeal markers of his dedication. “It's my toughest, yet most fulfilling role yet,” adds the artist whose repertoire already spans layered characters, from a morally ambiguous bandit in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster to a hardened abductor revealing unexpected vulnerability in the acclaimed Highway. “But the project wasn't just an acting challenge; it was rebellion as a storyteller.”

The project (Swatantrya Veer Savarkar) wasn't just an acting challenge; it was rebellion as a storyteller.

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Designer, Varun Bahl Couture; Ring, Ricchezza Sterling Silver; Necklace, Kakun Fine Jewellery; Shoes, Regal Shoes

Changing Desires

Randeep steps out of the changing room in a suede jacket set by Sawan Gandhi, carrying an air so composed it commands attention without trying. In the background, smooth jazz fills the studio, slicing through the usual shoot-day chaos. Every detail, from the mellow music to the styling and our muse, exudes quiet sophistication, coming together like a still from a noir film.

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Designer, Sawan Gandhi; Ring, Araiya by Aza; Brooch Pin, Ishhaara

It’s harder to stand out in a masala film than in a biopic. That’s the test I want next.

Perhaps there’s such a thing as being too proper for showbiz, yet Randeep thrives, with filmography that balances range with restraint. When asked about his definition of success after more than two decades in the industry, he slips a smile that momentarily thaws his otherwise cool exterior — and I can’t help but melt, just a little. “Over the years, I've focused on experimenting with genres and roles that fulfilled my creative appetite.” Marriage, he admits, has shifted his perspective. “Your goals mature. You look for balance.” He wants to do more commercial films now, not only for stability but for the challenge. “It’s harder to stand out in a masala film than in a biopic. That’s the test I want next.”

The Hollywood Connect

Having straddled both Hollywood and Bollywood, Hooda doesn’t romanticize the West. “Cinema is cinema,” he says when asked about the difference between the two worlds. The contrast, he explains, is less about culture and more about craft. “In Hollywood, you communicate over emails and scheduled dinners. Here, it’s a phone call and you’re rolling. When I’m there, I miss the human touch. When I’m here, I sometimes miss the preparation.” And that duality mirrors Randeep himself: oscillating between Bollywood potboilers and hard-hitting international roles.

In Hollywood, you communicate over emails and scheduled dinners. Here, it’s a phone call and you’re rolling.

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Designer, Rohit Bal; Ring & Brooch Pin, Araiya by Aza; Shoes, Bugatti Shoes India

With his first Hollywood film, Randeep aimed to do more than represent the nation. As a former para lieutenant colonel in Sam Hargrave's Extraction, he presented Indians in a new light on the global stage — far removed from the predictable tropes of a heavily accented nerdy desi or a mystical sage. Next in the pipeline is the action-adventure film Matchbox alongside John Cena and Jessica Biel. When I ask him to spill details about the film, he punctuates to measure his thoughts before letting them out. “Well, I can't reveal much, but I will say shooting for this one felt like a reunion, really,” he says, referring to his now dear friend Hargrave who's directing the film. “As for my co-stars... I mean from my father to my nephew, everyone's a fan of John Cena. And Jessica is as graceful and beautiful as one would imagine.” Another dramatic pause later, he tells me, “I wish this turns out well for everyone involved.”

Randeep Hooda in Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna

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Designer, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna; Shoes, Kavith Sainaani

Out of Office

For a man who has lived multiple lives on screen, Randeep's real-life love story is charmingly simple. He met his wife, actor Lin Laishram, during theatre rehearsals. “She was backstage, helping out,” he recalls. “We kept meeting, again and again. Over time, it turned to something deeper.” When visuals of their wedding surfaced on the internet, viewers were pleasantly surprised to see the culturally rooted Manipuri Meitei ceremony and attire. It was unlike anything even Randeep had experienced, given his Haryanvi background. “The event was beautiful — so different from the Punjabi hoo-ha I grew up around.” Despite the spectre of political turmoil haunting the people in Imphal, Hooda's nostalgic recollection paints a pretty picture of the nuptials. “There were more armed personnel than guests because of the situation there, but the warmth… it was unmatched.” He continues to share a sweet anecdote of his wife, displaying a flicker of mischief as both were expected to follow strict guidelines, as per tradition. “The more you smile or fidget, the weaker the groom. I stayed still. My wife, on the other hand, couldn’t stop laughing. Kids even kept running up to her to tell her to behave.”

While on the topic of what binds him and his wife, talk turns to the Prithviraj Yoddhas Archery Premier League, an initiative he started with Lin. “Archery is in her blood,” he says with pride. “Her father founded the Archery Association in Manipur. She was a national-level player herself. For us, this league isn’t just sport, it’s culture.” He supports the statement by explaining how they named teams after ancient Indian heroes, connecting mythology to modern sport, with the bow and arrow carrying symbolism. “We hope to build a talent pool like IPL did for cricket. India’s great at archery; we just need structure and exposure. Maybe this league brings us that Olympic gold someday.”

The more you smile or fidget, the weaker the groom. I stayed still. My wife, on the other hand, couldn’t stop laughing. Kids even kept running up to her to tell her to behave.

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Designer, Mishru; Necklace, Araiya by Aza

In an Alternate Universe

As we near the end of the shoot, Randeep delights us with motion snippets, while dressed in an understated navy-blue kurta set by Aariyana Couture. It’s the sort of sight that makes an admirer whisper in awe, “What does one have to do to have a personality like that?”

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Designer, Aariyana Couture

Some people you look at and just know, without a doubt, that they were born to do exactly what they’re doing. Randeep Hooda is one of them. Yet, in another universe, he imagines himself running a stud farm, living close to horses and the wild. “I learned early that if I do what I love, I’ll never have to work a day in my life.” Whether it’s acting, riding, or photographing wildlife, Hooda’s passions all orbit the same truth: he was destined to live many lives, both on and off the screen.

Recreate Randeep Hooda’s quiet charm with our curated edit.

Also Read:From modeling and movies to motherhood, Housefull 5 star Chitrangda Singh recounts her unique journey and shares fun tidbits in this Aza exclusive cover story.

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Randeep Hooda

Changing Desires

The Hollywood Connect

Out of Office

In an Alternate Universe

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