Randeep Hooda shares rare behind-the-scenes details from ‘Main Aur Charles’ as the film completes 10 years 10 : Bollywood News

As Main Aur Charles marks its 10th anniversary, actor Randeep Hooda reflected on his journey of portraying the notorious Charles Sobhraj — a role that continues to be celebrated for its complexity and charm. Taking to social media, the actor shared little-known insights into his preparation for the film and the lengths he went to in order to understand the real-life criminal who inspired it.

Randeep Hooda shares rare behind-the-scenes details from ‘Main Aur Charles’ as the film completes 10 years

Randeep revealed how transitioning from his intense role as Mahabir Bhati in Highway to embodying Sobhraj marked a turning point in his craft. “I had just finished Highway and felt I was beginning to find souls instead of just playing characters. After finding Mahabir’s soul, I was looking for Charles Sobhraj,” he shared, adding that Main Aur Charles was his first collaboration with director Prawal Raman.

The actor recalled how he and Raman discovered Sobhraj’s essence during the filming process. “I asked Prawal to point out the scene that defined Charles’s soul, but there wasn’t one. So, we played around and eventually found him through that play,” Randeep wrote.

He also revealed an extraordinary real-life encounter with Charles Sobhraj himself. “I finally met him, around the film’s release, in a Nepalese prison. He appreciated how closely I had played him. The Nepal police wouldn’t allow us to meet, so we had to do some jugaad to make it happen — even if from a distance,” Randeep recounted.

Describing what followed as “unexpected,” he continued, “He made a gesture of a phone as we were being ushered away, so I sent him a book through the guards with my number written inside. He found it, and we stayed in touch for years after his release through calls and video chats. I got to know Charles after I became Charles.”

Randeep’s portrayal of the enigmatic conman — both charming and chilling — remains one of his most acclaimed performances. As Main Aur Charles completes a decade, his reflections offer a rare glimpse into the intensity and dedication behind one of Indian cinema’s most striking character studies.