‘I drove cabs for three years, night shift for 15 to 16 hours, in Melbourne’: Take a tour of Randeep Hooda’s Mumbai home

The setup is personal. “My other friends also use my gym. So a lot of people have the keys to this house to use it. That’s why you call it the den,” Randeep adds, explaining the communal vibe. He even pulled out the television to cut down on distractions: “There used to be a big TV here as well, which I removed because I didn’t want one here… all we did was watch IPL.”

On the walls hang memories, paintings, photographs, fragments of his world. One shows his village house. “That’s our house and this pavement kind of keeps reminding me where one came from. Bombay’s got a way of making people lose track,” he reflects. The sun has faded the photos, but not their meaning. “That’s Roml, he’s out of action now,” he says, pointing to an image of one of his horses.

Yes, Hooda is an equestrian. Or as he modestly puts it: “It’s been a while since I’ve won anything really… my horses have either died or had health issues… but I’ll get back in the saddle soon. Kick some a**.”

Talking about cars, the actor said, “I’ve got a couple of cars—my parents use one, I use the bigger one—a Mercedes GLS 350d. Recently I got a replica of a Willys made… I don’t want to show off… but I like the feel.” It’s a war-ready jeep with a canopy. “Ready for war. Ready for monsoon. That’s war in Bombay.”

Hooda isn’t just a good driver. He’s been one professionally. “I drove cabs for three years, night shift for 15 to 16 hours, in Melbourne.”

By the end of the tour, you realise, this isn’t just a home. And the next chapter? As Randeep signs off with a chuckle: “The next biopic I’m going to be doing is called The Jeep Man.”