Randeep Hooda opens up about depression after “Battle of Saragarhi” was shelved

Hooda felt emotionally invested in the film and declined opportunities to stay committed.
He was the only Sikh actor cast in the project, with no other Sikh actors involved.
He took an oath before the Guru Granth Sahib as a mark of his dedication.

Randeep Hooda, currently gaining attention for his villainous role in “Jaat” alongside Sunny Deol, recently reflected on a significant disappointment in his career. The actor shared that he spent three years working on a film centered on the Battle of Saragarhi. Unfortunately, the release of “Kesari”, which featured Akshay Kumar, led to the shelving of the project. Hooda mentioned, “Woh picture ki shooting bhi shuru ho gayi thi,” and revealed that its cancellation left him feeling depressed.

In a recent conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Randeep Hooda shared that halting the filming of “Battle of Saragarhi” and the project’s eventual shelving was a deeply upsetting experience for him.

The “Jaat” actor explained that he became emotionally invested in the film and even declined significant opportunities to stay committed to the historical war drama. Hooda mentioned that “Kesari” was made shortly after, with production beginning while his own film was still in the works—something he felt was done in poor taste.

The “Kick” actor further expressed that the makers of “Kesari” disrespected him by proceeding with their project while his own film on the same subject was already underway. He revealed that he had completed around 30–40 percent of his film before it was abruptly shelved.

Reflecting on the situation, he remarked that certain individuals’ greed prevented the film from being completed. He also noted that he was the only Sikh actor cast in the project, with no other Sikh actors involved.

The 48-year-old actor shared that he fully committed to portraying his Sikh character with sincerity and depth, aiming to move away from the superficial depictions seen in past films.

Hooda mentioned that his vision for the film was deeply rooted in Sikh values and emotions, stating that the project was significantly shaped by the spirit of the Sikh religion. He also revealed that he took an oath before the Guru Granth Sahib as a mark of his dedication.

In his commitment to “Battle of Saragarhi”, Randeep even turned down a role in the sequel to “Extraction”, further highlighting his emotional and spiritual investment in the project. He emphasized this by saying he had made a vow in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.

However, the actor admitted that the shelving of the film broke his heart. The setback deeply affected him emotionally, and he openly shared that he went through a period of intense depression after the project’s collapse.