Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda has opened up about his philosophy of detachment on set, saying that relinquishing control during a performance is not a weakness but an act of deep trust — in himself and in his collaborators. His remarks come as Season 2 of his hit OTT series Inspector Avinash draws strong audience response following its recent release.

What Hooda Said About Preparation and Presence

Speaking during the promotional run for Inspector Avinash Season 2, Hooda described how thorough preparation must ultimately be set aside once the camera rolls. 'You have to, like even when you prepare for a character, no matter what you do in your room or in your hotel room or your home or whatever, you've got to go there and not have any preconceived notions,' he said. 'You don't have to see what the other actors are doing. You don't have to kind of know where the director is going to set up the shot or what it is going to be. You go there and you react to it.'

He added that this reactive presence is only possible when an actor has first made peace with himself. 'You only trust other people, your co-conspirators, only when you can trust yourself. So you have to trust yourself. You have to let go of all the preparation and you have to just be in that moment and enjoy it,' Hooda said.

The Difference Between Acting and Directing

Hooda, who has also stepped behind the camera as a director, drew a sharp distinction between the two crafts. 'As an artiste and as a director, I was very sure of everything. As an actor, I'm never very sure of anything,' he said. He framed this uncertainty not as a flaw but as a feature — something that keeps a performance alive and responsive rather than mechanical.

He also spoke about the responsibility that comes with shared creative space. 'I should not betray the trust of the people who are with me. And that in itself takes you along a long way,' he said, reflecting on how mutual accountability between cast members can elevate a scene.

Inspector Avinash Season 2 and the Response So Far

Inspector Avinash, based on the life of real-life police officer Avinash Mishra, has been well received since its second season dropped on the OTT platform. Hooda's portrayal of the no-nonsense cop has drawn praise for its physicality and emotional restraint — qualities that align closely with the acting philosophy he described. The show's return has renewed interest in Hooda's body of work and his reputation for intense, committed performances.

What This Reflects About Hooda's Craft

Hooda's comments offer a rare, candid window into a working actor's mindset. His emphasis on in-the-moment trust over rigid pre-planning reflects a broader school of thought in method and reactive acting — one that prioritises authenticity over control. For a performer known for physically demanding and emotionally layered roles, this approach appears to be a deliberate and practised discipline rather than an improvised stance.