Actor Randeep Hooda recently opened up about the challenges he faced while preparing for his role in the historical drama "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar," a film he not only acted in but also co-produced and directed. Hooda underwent a drastic physical transformation for the role, shedding a significant amount of weight, which took a toll on his health.
In an exclusive interview with a local daily, Hooda revealed that he had to lose approximately 32 kilograms and maintain an underweight frame for 18 months. However, the shoot of the film faced delays, prolonging Hooda's state of physical deprivation and causing him emotional distress.
Hooda compared this experience to his previous weight loss for the film "Sarbjit" in 2016, emphasizing the severity of his condition during the filming of "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar." He recounted moments of weakness, including passing out and falling from a horse during filming.
Following the shelving of the project by its initial producers, Hooda faced significant health risks due to his weakened state. His recovery process involved periods of "revenge eating" to compensate for long-term food deprivation, followed by disciplined rehabilitation with the help of a physiotherapist.
Source: India Today
Upon the revival of the film project, Hooda had to undergo rapid weight loss once again, adopting a fast mimicking diet to meet the demanding kilo-a-day weight loss target. This period was filled with challenges, including fainting spells and frustration due to the intense efforts required to reach and maintain the target weight.
Hooda expressed his belief that actors should strive to look the part for their roles but acknowledged the hardships he endured due to lack of organization and the need to repeat the weight loss process.
Reflecting on his experience, Hooda expressed his desire to work with more considerate and like-minded individuals in the future, prioritizing both the project's quality and his health. He emphasized the severity of his situation, admitting that he could have died due to his condition during filming.
Despite the immense personal sacrifices made for these films, both "Swatantrya Veer Savarkar" and "Sarbjit" failed to perform well commercially at the box office.
