Randeep Hooda has finally spoken out about being excluded from the promotional events of Highway, one of director Imtiaz Ali’s most celebrated films. While the 2014 road drama starring Alia Bhatt received a mixed response at the box office, it later gained a cult following. Now, almost 11 years after its release, Randeep is sharing how he felt during the film’s promotions—especially after a video featuring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Imtiaz Ali went viral.
Back then, a special promotional video was released where Alia Bhatt was seen alongside her Brahmastra co-star Ranbir Kapoor and director Imtiaz Ali. Fans loved the video, mainly because Alia had openly talked about having a childhood crush on Ranbir. The video quickly became a trending topic online. However, what confused many—including Randeep himself—was Ranbir Kapoor’s presence, as he wasn’t a part of the movie.
In a recent conversation with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, Randeep Hooda opened up about his feelings. He said,
“I still don’t know why that happened. I did feel bad about it. If I had received more support during that time, maybe my life and career would have been a little easier. I also saw that video and couldn’t understand what Ranbir Kapoor had to do with the film. Maybe that’s where the relationship between Alia and Ranbir began, and I wish them the best. If that video brought them together, I’m happy for them.”
Randeep further shared that he believed the film was planned to focus mainly on Alia Bhatt from the very beginning. He mentioned that he was called for only a couple of promotional events later on, possibly because the film wasn’t getting enough attention and the makers wanted to boost it with his presence.
Despite being left out of the promotions, Randeep is grateful that the audience appreciated his performance. His powerful role as Mahabir Bhati in Highway is still remembered fondly, and fans have often praised the chemistry between him and Alia Bhatt in the movie.
On the work front, Randeep Hooda is currently receiving praise for his performance in Jaat, where he plays a villain opposite Sunny Deol. Fans are loving his intense avatar, and critics have noted his strong screen presence.
As for Highway, the film continues to be loved for its emotional storytelling, soulful music, and memorable performances by both Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda. Even after more than a decade, it remains one of Imtiaz Ali’s most special creations.
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