"That was a very low time for me and I was very depressed."
Randeep Hooda opened up about experiencing depression after The Battle of Saragarhi was axed.
He admitted that he even considered dropping out of the Chris Hemsworth hit Extraction because of it.
The actor explained: “11 years out of these three 23 or so odd years I have not been on the set even once a year.
“Many times I had zero money and I didn’t know what I am going to do next.
“I sold everything in my house, car, microwave and everything but I never sold my horses.”
“There is an Arabic saying ‘Increase your income instead of reducing your expenses’.
“Once, I sold my horse Ranji for a dear some of money and I just couldn’t take it. I returned the cheque and got my horse back.
“Mental stamina comes from the fact that what else is there?
“Going through movies like The Battle of Saragarhi where I had grown a full Sikh beard for three years, prepped for Gatka and that movie didn’t get completed.”
Admitting his struggles, Randeep Hooda said:
“That was a very low time for me and I was very depressed.
“It was like life chopped in half, I almost left Extraction for it.
“I had once gone to Golden Temple. I had pledged there that I would not cut my hair until the film (Battle of Saragarhi) came to its conclusion, and when it did, I did and moved on.
“After that, it was a struggle because for three years I had no work. I had put on weight, it all looked bizarre and I didn’t know what to do.
“Then I got out of it, my parents were really worried.
“Then I went and did Extraction, but I was half there and dealing with this whole downer.”
On how the experience changed him as an actor, he said:
“Had I gotten success very early, I would have not been the actor I am today.”
“I would have stopped striving, but that struggle has made me apply myself more and in the most trying circumstances.”
Meanwhile, his latest film Swatantra Veer Savarkar was released on March 22, 2024.
The film also marks his directorial debut.
Praising his performance, Randeep’s wife Lin Laishram said:
“My heart brims with gratitude for this remarkable man, my husband, who has worn many hats in crafting the film.
“I won’t even mention the struggle you went through making it. But my love, you deserve better, far beyond what words can express, and you stand as an inspiration to all. I’m proud of you.”
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