'Jaat' actor Randeep Hooda reveals he lost 18kg weight during 'Sarbjit' shoot

Actor Randeep Hooda has delivered many powerful and layered performances over his 24-year career. Known for his roles in films like 'Highway' (2014), 'Sarbjit' (2016), 'Veer Savarkar' (2024), and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' (2010), he is admired for his dedication to each character. In a recent interview, Randeep spoke about his role in Sarbjit and shared how he had to physically transform himself to stay true to the story.
Randeep Hooda on transforming for tough roles
In an episode of the Shubhankar Mishra Podcast, Randeep Hooda opened up about his experience playing intense roles like Sarbjit and Savarkar.
Drastic weight loss for 'Sarbjit'
He revealed that while preparing for Sarbjit, he had to go through major physical changes. The makers changed the shooting schedule at the last moment.
Physical struggles during Sarbjit and Savarkar shoots
Randeep shared that the team initially planned to shoot the Punjab portions of Sarbjit, which included wrestling scenes. However, the schedule changed suddenly, and he insisted it wouldn’t make sense for a man in jail to appear physically fit. To stay real to the character, he drastically reduced his food and water intake, which took a toll on his health. He also revealed that while shooting for Savarkar, he remained underweight for nearly a 1.5 years.
Directed by Omung Kumar, Sarbjit also starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Richa Chadha, Darshan Kumar, and Ankur Bhatia.
The secret behind his physical transformation
When asked about his diet and how he managed such a major physical change, Randeep Hooda said he followed the simple practice of fasting. He explained that both Hinduism and Islam promote fasting, which allows the digestive system to rest. According to him, many health issues begin in the stomach, and fasting helps the body recover naturally.