In the cinema, action is perhaps the most hallowed genre, presenting adrenaline, spectacle, and emotional reward. But as Randeep Hooda suggests, there’s a drastic difference in the way action is done in Bollywood versus Hollywood, and it all starts with how stars are treated on the sets.
In a recent open discussion with Mid-Day, actor Randeep Hooda spoke of his experience with action films across borders. Having worked with Indian legends like Salman Khan and Sunny Deol and global stars like Chris Hemsworth and John Cena, Randeep is among the rare Indian actors who have seen both worlds closely. For him, the difference lies not in production scale alone but in the very philosophy behind action choreography.
Bollywood Action: Constructed Around Stars
In India, Randeep detailed, action scenes are mostly framed keeping in view the superstar’s personality and image.
“The action is designed around them. When you see them, you feel like they can do what they are doing,” he said, referring to Salman Khan and Sunny Deol, two of Bollywood’s most celebrated action stars. “Both of them were stars before the advent of the Internet,” Randeep added, implying that their legendary status was built on mass appeal and fan following rather than digital validation or technical prowess.
Randeep’s comment broaches a Hollywood convention in Bollywood: the action isn’t really about realism; it’s about affirmation of the hero image. Whether Salman Khan strides through a hail of bullets as his shirt comes off dramatically or Sunny Deol picks up hand pumps, the spectacle is designed to worship the star, not the stunt.
While this formula has worked for decades, Randeep believes it creates a gap in authenticity. “They are worshipped in India, and that’s what keeps it less real,” he noted. The reverence around these stars often eliminates the room for raw, grounded action. The scenes are expected to look grand, no matter how impractical, because the hero must always emerge larger than life.
Hollywood’s Action Ethos: Rehearsals, Realism, and Rigor
Contrast that with Randeep’s experience in Hollywood, and the picture changes drastically. Having worked with Chris Hemsworth in the 2020 Netflix hit Extraction, Randeep got a firsthand look at how action is handled in the West. “Chris and I were rehearsing for six weeks before we shot anything. It looks real because of that. It’s like theater—you rehearse until it becomes a part of you.”
According to him, the training isn’t just about perfecting stunts. It’s about becoming the character physically and mentally. The commitment extends from choreographed fights to stamina-building routines and weapon handling. The goal is believability. “They come, they train, and they put in the weeks of work so that everything looks natural on camera,” Randeep said.
This approach, he believes, is rooted in the Western understanding of action cinema. “In Hollywood, the actor adapts to the action. In India, action adapts to the actor.” That one sentence possibly captures the entire divide between two cinematic cultures. One is rooted in realism and craft, and the other in charisma and mass appeal.
Extraction: Randeep’s Real Action Baptism
Despite playing intense roles throughout his career in films like Highway, Laal Rang, and Sarbjit, Randeep admitted that his first real action experience happened only during the filming of Extraction in 2019. “I had never actually thrown a punch on camera before that,” he confessed.
Working under stunt coordinator-turned-director Sam Hargrave pushed Randeep into a new zone. “It was a wake-up call,” he shared, describing the physical and mental challenge of filming in high-pressure, high-speed action sequences that had to feel both seamless and real. The experience not only humbled him but also reformed his perception of what it means to take real action on screen.
Looking Ahead: Matchbox and More
After the success of his collaboration in Extraction, Randeep is going to work again with director Sam Hargrave for Matchbox, an action-comedy based on the age-old Mattel toy cars. The international ensemble includes John Cena, Jessica Biel, Danai Gurira, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, Arturo Castro, and Corey Stoll. Slated for release next year, the film promises a fast-paced, stunt-heavy ride with a playful narrative spin.
Back in India, Randeep was recently seen in Jaat, a Hindi action-drama directed by Gopichand Malineni. Starring alongside Sunny Deol, the film also features Regina Cassandra, Saiyami Kher, Ramya Krishnan, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Jagapathi Babu. The movie gives him one more feather in his hat of prolific performances, juggling domestic and international films.
Final Thoughts: Bridging Two Cinematic Worlds
Randeep Hooda’s observations provide a rare, inside-knowledge perspective on how various industries treat the same genre. His is not a comparison of superiority but of consciousness and development. As Bollywood continues to rely on its signature hero-centric formula, international exposure and viewing norms steadily begin to guide the industry towards more realistic, training-led action performances.
As one of the few Indian stars to straddle both worlds, Randeep occupies a singular juncture where star power converges with craft and storytelling meets stunt reality. His path could very well herald a new age of Indian action film that reconciles preparation with presence.