Over the past five years, Randeep Hooda has cemented his place as a strong action hero in Indian and international cinema. Randeep Hooda, from starring in the 2020 Netflix thriller Extraction with Chris Hemsworth to his recent role as a villain in Jaat, Hooda has consistently impressed audiences with his physical performances.
Hooda has worked alongside some of the biggest action stars in the world — John Cena and Chris Hemsworth in Hollywood, and Sunny Deol and Salman Khan in Bollywood. He recently shared insights into their different working styles. Hollywood stars, he noted, commit to weeks of rehearsals for action scenes, making them appear more realistic on screen. On Extraction, Hooda trained for six weeks with Hemsworth before shooting a major fight sequence — a big shift from his earlier career where he hadn’t done real hand-to-hand action despite his rugged image.
In contrast, he noted that Indian stars like Deol and Khan have action scenes built around their long-standing personas. Their status as pre-social media stars makes them unique, with audiences still holding on to their larger-than-life image.
Hooda has now collaborated with Salman Khan on three films — Kick (2014), Sultan (2016), and Radhe (2021) — and recently faced off against Sunny Deol in Jaat. He shared that Salman has become a good friend over time, even offering him personal advice over the years.
Moving ahead, Randeep will reunite with Extraction director Sam Hargrave in Matchbox, an action-comedy also starring John Cena, set for release in 2026. With a growing international presence and a string of impactful roles, Hooda continues to evolve as one of India’s most dynamic action stars.
