After walking the red carpet at TIFF, Randeep Hooda has returned to his home turf to shoot a movie and is horsing around with a polo club of his own in Gurgaon
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 22, 2015)


September 13 was Randeep Hooda's lucky day. He walked the red carpet at the just-concluded 40th Toronto International Film Festival with the team of Deepa Mehta's upcoming crime thriller, Beeba Boys, which had its North American premiere at TIFF's 'Gala' section. It brought back memories of his debut film, Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, which premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and bagged the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. "I was a kid then, hiding behind everyone else, but this time I put a sure foot forward. And though the rain ruined our parade, the standing ovation at the end of the screening was a real high," exults the actor.

His rush-rush schedule meant he missed out on a tete-a-tete with Johnny Depp, who was in Canada too with his film, Black Mass, but he got to meet The Life and Death of Peter Sellers actor and internationally acclaimed producer, Geoffrey Rush, whose class act in Shine bagged him an Oscar, the BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and The Critics Choice Award. "He's from Melbourne and since I've spent some time Down Under, we had stuff in common to talk about besides cinema," laughs Randeep.

There have been some quibbles about Deepa's film with The Hollywood Reporter saying "it's too quirky a project to travel far, and its main appeal should be to Indians in Canada and the U.S. where the offbeat humor should make the most sense". Randeep points out that given Deepa's track record, maybe the critics were expecting a more serious film. "But the audience was laughing at the right points and enjoying the Sardar humour. And later on the streets, we were greeted with shouts of 'Hey, Beeba boys'," he reminisces.

He admits that since he had not seen the film before, there were some apprehensions. "Some of my scenes were edited, but no complaints as long as it works for the screenplay and the director. And the critics have been really kind to me. I wasn't expecting such a super response," he says.

So, has Deepa spoken to him about her next film yet? Randeep admits that they have been discussing a lot of ideas but haven't locked on anything yet. "It's nice to collaborate with the same people because you're in your comfort zone and can do things better with the communication lines more open. I have been talking to others too but talks take a long time and till things don't materialise, you don't talk about it," he says evasively.

Randeep returned from Toronto to his home state Haryana where he's filming Laal Rang via Mumbai and Delhi, jet lagged. "I got into the vanity van, into my costume, and it was a real culture shock. From Karnal to Toronto, it's been a long journey, for me as a person and as an actor too. It's heartening when locals now, clued in to my whereabouts, thanks to the social media, ask me, "Toronto kaisa tha?" he laughs.

Meanwhile, Randeep has launched a Polo Club in Gurgaon with the intention of making polo and equestrian sport more accessible. "I don't want to bring down its aspiration quality but I want to make polo more accessible to people and clear the misconception that it is an expensive sport. It's cheaper than hiring a cricket pitch and equipment," he says, adding that there are plans to start such clubs across India.

His new initiative must have made his horses happy? He guffaws, "I haven't had time for a chat with them. May be some of them are jealous but they will understand that its for the larger good."