"Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai started a beautiful trend in my career. 10 years later, it’s still one of my strongest performance" Randeep Hooda on the film completing a decade
As Milan Luthria’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, completes a decade today, here's what actor Randeep Hooda had to say about his role as a cop (Agnel Wilson), on why he rejected the role thrice and much more.
Randeep first refused to play the character because as he had already played the role of Dawood Ibrahim in D, he thought playing a cop in this film would be a step down for him. "To play a cop in a gangster heavy film, I thought it would be a step down for me. Milan spoke to me again and again and again. In fact, once I finished my part, they told me I had to shoot the entire part as an old man as earlier he was planned as a young man. So, I was like ‘What’s going on?’ That’s the reason why I refused it thrice. But I’m so glad I did it. So I’m really glad and thankful to Milan Luthria for convincing and persuading me to be a part. I think Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai started a beautiful trend in my career. 10 years later, it’s still one of my strongest performances. That’s a good thing to know."
Randeep also revealed how keen he was on playing this part. "I don’t really look at other people’s roles as such, once I’m designated one. I was just apprehensive about my part. I didn’t really look at any other part."
Talking about the memories which he relishes to date while shooting for the film, the actor remembered how he would laugh his heads off while discussing his dialogues with the writer of the film, Rajat Arora. "The real pompous and filmy nature of these filmy dialogues.. he and I would have our little jokes over Old Smuggler (the drink). Once the take used to start, we used to do it with as much conviction as one could muster up, and the results were just fantastic!"
