Randeep Hooda recently opened up about the influence Sunny Deol had on his early fitness regime, sharing how the veteran star’s larger-than-life persona motivated him and his friends to get into shape. Reminiscing about his school days, Randeep shared that he and his hostel mates were so inspired by Sunny’s onscreen presence and muscular build that they adorned their cupboards with his posters.
Randeep Hooda on the influence of Sunny Deol on his childhood
The ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ actor recalled how those images became a source of motivation, pushing him to start weight training and regular push-ups—habits that have stayed with him to this day. Now, years later, he is thrilled to share screen space with his childhood idol in the upcoming action thriller ‘Jaat’.
“I have always been a huge fan of Sunny Deol. Growing up, we admired his powerful screen presence, his intensity, and his physique. I still remember us having his posters in our school hostel cupboards, looking at them and getting inspired to lift weights and do push-ups,” Randeep said.
Randeep Hooda on Jaat
Expressing his excitement about ‘Jaat’, he added, “What convinced me the most about this role was the opportunity to play an ultra-macho action star opposite a legend like Sunny sir. Matching his energy and intensity on screen—it’s an actor’s dream. He is a powerhouse, and sharing the screen with him is both a challenge and an honor.”
Sunny Deol shares how Jaat took shape
Earlier, Sunny Deol shared that the idea for Jaat took root during ‘Gadar 2’ discussions. Recalling the film’s journey, he said, “We were all very excited about it. We were about to start working on a fantastic film. After considering multiple directors, Gopi (Gopichand Malineni) agreed to take it up. We met in Goa, and he had another story to narrate. He narrated Sorry Bol (laughs). And with ‘sorry, sorry, sorry,’ he pulled me into the entire film and story, and that’s how Jaat came to be.”
Directed by Gopichand Malineni, Jaat features Sunny Deol in the titular role, with Randeep Hooda taking on the part of a menacing antagonist. The film also stars Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher, and Regina Cassandra in key roles.
The much-anticipated action thriller is set for a theatrical release on April 10.
