Celebrating Randeep Hooda’s 10 Most Underrated Performances

Hooda has been acting in Bollywood for well over a decade and yet, he continuously gets left behind when audiences mention the best actors in Bollywood.

[Photo Credit: Facebook/RandeepHooda]

When it comes to Bollywood films, most of the time we judge based on surface level traits that actors possess. Their star power and attractiveness, action, music, and dancing—which to be fair are important—but many films can often be ignored or not recognized for the right reasons. Randeep Hooda turns 40 today, and for years he’s flown under the radar of Bollywood’s elite. But today, we celebrate his work, especially in the films where he may have been overshadowed.

Hooda has been acting in Bollywood for well over a decade—and yet, he continuously gets left behind when audiences mention the best actors in Bollywood right now. Hooda should be recognized on the level of some of the greats, but he chooses to act in films that are more under-the-radar. When he does get a role in a big-budget film, it’s usually as a side character, like his most recent work in “Sultan,” as Salman Khan’s character’s wrestling coach. It’s finally time for him to get the respect and attention he deserves.

Here’s a list of films you should watch in order to recognize his full potential:

1. “Main Aur Charles”

In a year of films like “Bajirao Mastani,” “Dil Dhadakne Do,” “Piku,” and “Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” and more, it’s not hard to forget some of the smaller releases of 2015—”Main Aur Charles” is one of them. Boy, did Hooda and the film pack a punch or what. Hooda stars as the titular character Charles, and the story is based on the real life of the serial killer Charles Sobhraj.

2. “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster”

This was one of the films that allowed Hooda to get more great roles, but in the scope of great Bollywood films, this one tends to be forgotten from time to time. Once again, just because a film isn’t flashy, doesn’t mean it’s not great. “Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster” — which tells the story of a Raja, Raani, and her lover who comes from Raja’s rival party — is a wonderfully dark film with a star-making performance for Hooda.

3. “Highway”

Everyone rightfully talks about how fantastic Alia Bhatt was in “Highway,” her first film after her soapy, corny debut in “Student of the Year.” However, it was a great film because of both leads. Hooda is brilliant as one of the kidnappers of Alia’s character Veera, who develops Stockholm Syndrome and thinks she is in love with him.

4. “Monsoon Wedding”

In an ensemble film, it seems wrong to recognize just one or two actors for being above the rest, especially if the film overall is made correctly. Everyone should play their part and make the movie as well as they can, and “Monsoon Wedding” definitely achieves that.

This tale about a family navigating the many stresses of planning a wedding for one of their own is a powerful, beautiful film, and Hooda plays a huge part in making the film be the best it can be. In his first major role, Hooda plays the cousin of the bride who has come from Australia to help with the wedding and finds himself being constantly harassed by his uncle and finding love.

5. “Beeba Boys”

It’s a film many people, especially in India, may not know well, as it was made in Canada about Indo-Canadian life. “Beeba Boys,” which features the relatively unknown seedy underbelly of Indo-Canadian gangster life, is yet another film where Hooda had a chance to stretch his acting legs in the English-language (like “Monsoon Wedding”). He went above and beyond as the leader of a gang in Vancouver who is chased by fellow gangsters and the cops. Yet another bloody, dark film, this one has more style than it knows what to do with; luckily, Hooda excels in both stylish and violent thrillers.

[Read Related: “Deepa Mehta’s ‘Beeba Boys,’ is a Loud, Masterful, Tarantino-Like Film“]

6. “Ungli”

Despite some strange writing and being overshadowed in promos by his co-stars, Hooda made another splash in “Ungli” as one-fifth of a gang that comes together to stop corruption in India and bites off a little more than they can chew.

7. “Heroine”

While the film is all about Kareena Kapoor from start to finish, it isn’t necessarily all that great thanks to overacting from some stars. Kapoor emerged as a powerful actress through this film but while she did that, Hooda was secretly the best thing about the film. His portrayal as Angad Paul, a cricketer who begins a relationship with Kapoor’s Mahi and is stepped over by Mahi in favor of her career, is excellent and emotional.

8. “D”

The movie shines all it’s focus on Hooda and yet, aside from being an installment in Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster trilogy, how many people really remember this film? It’s dark, violent and an amazing display of what Hooda can do as an untraditional leading man.

9. “Do Lafzon Ki Kahani”

Earlier this summer, Hooda starred in this sappy, forced romantic drama about a retired boxer who comes back into the ring to raise money for the blind girl he falls for, out of love and guilt as her reason for going blind is directly related to the mistakes he made in his past. The story is predictable, and the film itself is just not very good. Despite this, Hooda rises above the material and proves once again that he has what it takes to be a new kind of leading man.

10. “Sarbjit”

In a film starring Aishwarya Rai, it’s hard for anyone else to be noticed. Hooda is the shining light in this dark biographical film about Sarbjit Singh, a man who was wrongfully accused of being a terrorist and held as a prisoner in Pakistan until he was killed, while his sister fought tirelessly for his release. Hooda underwent a drastic physical change for this role as well. His dedication is admirable!