Randeep Hooda Reflects on Turning Down Ab Tak Chhappan Role and His Bold Career Choices

Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda has always been known for his bold choices in films, with a career marked by his versatility and powerful performances. In a recent interview, Hooda opened up about an early turning point in his career when he turned down a role in Ram Gopal Varma’s cult film Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), and why he insisted on playing the role that was originally performed by veteran actor Nana Patekar.

When Randeep Hooda first entered the film industry, he was eager to make a mark and refused to settle for anything less than what he believed was his rightful opportunity. In his conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, he revealed that after his theatre debut, Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) had approached him to play a young police officer in Ab Tak Chhappan. However, Randeep wasn’t interested in that role, as it wasn’t the one he truly desired.

“I have come here to play Nana Patekar’s role. I am not doing this role,” Randeep Hooda recalled his response when the offer came through. He wanted to take on the challenging role of the no-nonsense cop that Patekar had portrayed so powerfully in the film, a character that became one of the most iconic in Bollywood at the time.

 Randeep Hooda’s refusal to take on a minor role didn’t end his connection with Ram Gopal Varma, though. The director, impressed by Hooda’s boldness, invited him for a meeting. During this meeting, Varma reportedly said, “I love your attitude. Show me your body.” In the conversation that followed, Varma proposed a villainous role for Randeep in an upcoming project titled Ek, but the film never materialized.

Despite the initial tension, Randeep’s relationship with Ram Gopal Varma evolved over time. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Randeep shared that his then-girlfriend scolded him for his perceived arrogance when meeting Varma, suggesting that he lacked humility. The next day, Randeep decided to approach the filmmaker with a more polite and respectful demeanor. Yet, Varma still remarked, “I liked you better yesterday,” recognizing Randeep’s unique personality.

RGV’s Gesture of Support

Despite the rough start, Randeep Hooda’s relationship with Varma soon became one of mutual respect. After expressing his financial struggles and the need to find more work, Randeep shared how Varma made a surprising gesture. RGV, sensing the actor’s commitment, offered to pay him a monthly salary to ensure he wouldn’t have to look for other roles. “I went to him and said I was looking for other roles because I had a home to run. He asked me about my monthly expenses, and I quickly calculated, surged it a bit, and said Rs 35,000. He kept me on a salary of Rs 35,000 for three years and told me not to do any other work,” Randeep explained.

This gesture of financial support allowed Randeep to focus on his craft and led to their collaboration on the film D (2005), which marked a significant turning point in Hooda’s career.