Randeep Hooda honours Sarabjit Singh on death anniversary: 'Your story changed me'
Synopsis
Randeep Hooda's death anniversary tribute to Sarabjit Singh transcends typical celebrity remembrance. The actor revealed how playing the wrongfully convicted Indian — executed in a Pakistani prison in 2013 — fundamentally altered his understanding of freedom, loss, and justice. His post honours not just Sarabjit, but the women who fought for him: his sister Dalbir Kaur and wife Sukhpreet Kaur, whose legacies live through their daughters' settled lives.
Key Takeaways
Randeep Hooda shared an emotional tribute to Sarabjit Singh on his death anniversary, reflecting on the transformative impact of playing the character in the 2016 film Sarabjit .
Hooda wrote that portraying Sarabjit taught him the true meaning of freedom, loss, and family strength.
The actor honoured Dalbir Kaur , Sarabjit's sister who fought for his case, and Sukhpreet Kaur , his wife, both now deceased.
Sarabjit's legacy continues through his daughters Swapandeep and Poonam , who are now settled with families.
The 2016 film starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Dalbir Kaur and Richa Chadda as Sukhpreet Kaur .
Actor Randeep Hooda, who portrayed Sarabjit Singh in director Omung Kumar's 2016 biographical drama Sarabjit, took to social media on the death anniversary to share an emotional tribute to the wrongfully convicted Indian national. Hooda's heartfelt note reflected on how the role deepened his understanding of freedom, loss, and familial resilience.
Hooda's emotional tribute
In his Instagram post, Randeep Hooda wrote: "Dear Sarabjit, Your story changed me. What began as preparing for a film, became something much deeper. Through you, I felt pain, silence, courage, and hope. Being you taught me the true meaning of freedom, loss, and the strength of a family that never stopped believing." The actor's words underscored the profound personal impact of embodying such a significant real-life character.
Remembering those who fought for justice
Hooda also paid respects to Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit's late sister who campaigned tirelessly for his case, and Sukhpreet Kaur, his wife. He wrote: "Since then, we have also lost, the sister who fought for you with the world, Dalbir Kaur ji and your wife, Sukhpreet ji. But your legacy lives on through your wonderful daughters, Swapandeep and Poonam, who today have families of their own and are living full, settled lives."
Legacy beyond cinema
The actor concluded his tribute by noting that Sarabjit's story transcended the film itself. "Years have passed, but your story still stays with me. Some characters leave when the film ends. You never did," Hooda wrote, signing off with "Om Shanti." His words highlighted how Sarabjit's life continues to resonate beyond the screen, serving as a reminder of the human cost of judicial injustice.
The film and its cast
The 2016 biographical drama Sarabjit, backed by Pooja Entertainment in collaboration with T-Series Films and Legend Studios Pvt. Ltd., featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Dalbir Kaur and Richa Chadda as Sukhpreet Kaur. The film brought international attention to Sarabjit's case, a Pakistani prison inmate who was executed in 2013 after being convicted of espionage and terrorism charges — convictions he and his family consistently denied.
Point of View
He reframes Sarabjit's story not as a tragedy frozen in time, but as a living legacy embedded in his daughters' stability. This matters: wrongful conviction narratives in Indian cinema often end with the injustice itself. Hooda's post — and the 2016 film — insisted on what comes after: the work of justice, the cost to families, and the quiet redemption of seeing the next generation thrive. That's the story that changed him, and it's the one that should change how we remember such cases.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sarabjit Singh and why is his story significant?
Sarabjit Singh was an Indian national wrongfully convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan. He was executed in a Pakistani prison in 2013 after spending years in custody. His case drew international attention due to his sister Dalbir Kaur's tireless campaign for justice, highlighting the human cost of judicial error across borders.
What did Randeep Hooda say about playing Sarabjit Singh?
Hooda shared that playing Sarabjit transformed his understanding of freedom, loss, and family resilience. He wrote: "What began as preparing for a film, became something much deeper. Through you, I felt pain, silence, courage, and hope." He emphasized that the character stayed with him long after filming ended.
Who else was honoured in Hooda's tribute?
Hooda paid respects to Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit's sister who fought for his case until her death, and Sukhpreet Kaur, his wife, who also passed away. He highlighted how their legacy lives on through Sarabjit's daughters, Swapandeep and Poonam, who are now settled with families of their own.
When was the film Sarabjit released and who else starred in it?
The biographical drama Sarabjit was released in 2016 under the direction of Omung Kumar. The film starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Dalbir Kaur and Richa Chadda as Sukhpreet Kaur, alongside Randeep Hooda in the title role.
