Compiled by Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 13, 2025)

Actors Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda and Viineet Kumar Singh - the star cast of Jaat were in town recently to meet the winners of the HT City Stars In The City contest. In conversation with Chief Managing Editor, Entertainment & Lifestyle Sonal Kalra, they were up to answer every question that came their way. From an overload of action films, to nepotism, they took it all. Randeep also went on to share some BTS stories from his wedding in 2023 to Lin Laishram, and everyone was left surprised.

Oh, and that was not it. How can you have such macho stars in the house, and not have a panja battle! 

There’s so much action in Jaat. Does it come naturally to you at this point? Or do you roll your eyes when an action script is narrated to you?
Sunny: Scripts pasand aati hain, tabhi karta hoon films. In the kind of films I’ve done, [my] character is an underdog who comes up and wins and overcomes the situation. Chaalis saal se tag aisa lag gaya hai ki main [action] se nikal nahin paa raha hoon. But Jaat is a very entertaining film.

Who’s the real ’jaat’ in the film?
Randeep: I am a real-life Jaat, playing a Sri Lankan in the film, and that’s a joke on me (laughs). But it’s good for the movie. Kya yeh community ke baare mein hai? Kisi individual ke baare mein, ya yeh koi agent hai? Film dekh ke pata chal jaayega. The only true Jaat in the film, however, is Sunny Deol. Humare Haryana mein bolte hain, ‘Jaat ki full form hai, Justice, Action and Truth!’”

Viineet, what was it like working with two powerhouses like Sunny and Randeep?
Viineet: I got a lot of love from these two secure actors. Bade ped ke neeche chhota ped khil nahin paata. But agar ped aisa ho, toh ped dam dama ke khilta hai!

There’s a lot of talk about north vs south cinema. Having worked with Telugu director Gopichand Malineni on his first Hindi film, what’s your take?
Randeep: Filmmakers in the south make slick films. As far as North-South goes, language is the last form of communication in any human interaction.
Sunny: Unka cinema poore Bharat mein chal raha hai because everybody can relate to it.

Do you have any real-life memories that felt like a filmi, dramatic moment?
Randeep: My wedding took place in Manipur under heavy Army protection. There were more security personnel than civilians; as soon as the pheras finished, AK-47s went off in the air across the entire valley. Shaadi ho toh aisi ho!

Sunny, as your sons Karan and Rajveer set out in their careers, how will you support them while letting them carve their own paths?
Sunny: As a father, I will always support them, like my dad (actor Dharmendra) did. Karan is on his own journey; let’s see where he goes. Baaki, when you become a father, you realize that you will always have that ‘dhak dhak’ in your heart.