EXCLUSIVE: I’m shocked how `Murder 3` got a U/A, says Randeep Hooda

Randeep Hooda - in an exclusive interview with Ananya Bhattacharya of Zeenews.com.

This man has seen it all. He’s faced some very tough times when it comes to life on reel and in real, and has now been able to stun his critics into silence. For with every single film that the dashing, scalding hot Randeep Hooda has taken up, he has delivered an ace. Be it a comatose script or one that kept one on tenterhooks all through, Hooda has performed his characters to the hilt – and continues to do so. His sheer hard work has resulted in the fact that he is almost omnipresent in the movie circuit now. From a few films in 2012 to more than half a dozen releases lined up this year, Randeep Hooda believes that he has received a new lease of life. In a candid chat with Ananya Bhattacharya of Zeenews.com, the actor spoke about his upcoming ‘Murder 3’ – his first release this year, women, love and a lot more. Snippets from the conversation:

We’ve seen the assassin (‘Jism 2’), the gangster (‘Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster’), the police officer with a history (‘One Upon A Time In Mumbai’), the police officer who drinks and uses cuss words (‘Jannat 2’)- and now, in ‘Murder 3’, too, the trailers suggest that there’s more to you than what meets the eye. Does the real Randeep Hooda revel in playing characters with shades of grey? Yes… I feel such characters are more interesting. Human beings, in reality, are grey. According to me, these ‘real’ characters come across as more human, and therefore, more believable so to speak. For me, characters somehow can’t really be categorized as black or white or grey and so on. It is more to do with a journey that a person undertakes… that’s what a character is all about. After ‘Jism 2’, ‘Jannat 2’ and ‘Heroine’ last year, you are almost ubiquitous this year. You have many films lined up this year, and you’re constantly being signed on for newer projects. Tell us what it all feels like. It feels like I’ve received a new lease of life! The feeling is beautiful. For me and for the dreams that I’ve always dreamt – for all that I’ve always wanted to do – this feels really good. We know that you’ve helped Aditi (Rao Hydari) and Sara (Loren) in being comfortable during the intimate scenes in ‘Murder 3’. Share some tips with us… how did you manage to do all that? (Bursts into laughter) Well… I took Aditi and Sara out for lunches, dinners, drinks; became friends in the process; and made sure that they were able to relate to me as a co-worker who was going through the same thing as they were. Probably that is how the intimate scenes and the emotions involved therein came across as so bold and amazing. Aditi or Sara – who would you say you were more comfortable working with? I can’t really differentiate between them. And I feel it would be a bit unfair to both if I did. Both Aditi and Sara were different and special in their own way. They were both bold in different aspects. Aditi is more disciplined; she has a deep insight into various things and is intelligent. Sara has a beautiful spontaneity in herself; she is blessed with a certain kind of rawness. Any female co-star you’d want to work with again? (laughs) I feel I work more with directors and not co-stars! With so many films lined up and you are shooting for even more simultaneously, how much time are you able to devote to equestrianism these days? I don’t get that much time now. But my horses are all doing well; they are being looked after really well. All of my horses are well groomed and are in perfect shape – so that whenever I get a bit of time, I can get back to them! You share an inarticulate bond with your horses and we know that in the past, you’ve gone out of your way to take care of them. Anything you’d want to say about that. Yes… I have done all of that and still do, and will always continue to do so. The sport is a very satisfying and involving one, it’s a hobby that appeals strongly to me. I feel the sport and the animals take one much closer to nature; keeps one rooted and exposes all that have turned superfluous in our daily lives these days. Coming back to ‘Murder 3’, this is the first time ever that a film of the ‘Murder’ franchise has been passed with a ‘U/A’ certificate. How far do you think that helps in getting rid of the stereotype of boldness that people usually associate a ‘Murder’ with? To be honest, I’m shocked that the film has been passed with a ‘U/A’ certificate! There’s enough bold content in the film… the subject, the content, all of it – is pretty bold. Let’s talk about your role in ‘Murder 3’ I play Vikram, a photographer sandwiched between two very beautiful women – and hanging on the edge of their lips – judge for yourself what a role it must be! (laughs) Here, the film is not exactly a character-driven one, but a slosh-driven one. However, it is very important to keep the mystery alive. Randeep Hooda in real life: are you more of the proper ‘loverboy’, or the quintessential flirt or the kinds who kill love? (Laughs) I guess I’m a bit of all of them, actually! And since you are murdering ‘love’ this Valentine’s, a few tips on that art! What we are murdering is the stereotypical concept of love, actually. The kinds where a boy and a girl meet, fall in love, get married and make babies – the straight, happy love. That doesn’t really happen in real life. In ‘Murder 3’, we are challenging the fairytale concept of love – and how things are not all happy and nice and blissful!