Shaad Randhawa, a regular face in Mohit Suri’s films, recently opened up about working with the director for the first time in Woh Lamhe.
Although he wasn’t chosen for Suri’s earlier movies Zeher and Kalyug, he eventually made his debut in the 2006 film alongside Shiney Ahuja and Kangana Ranaut. Shaad revealed that Mohit was upfront about casting him in a negative role, and though initially unsure, he decided to go ahead with the opportunity.
Shaad played Kangana’s boyfriend in the film, unaware at first of the character’s darker arc. He recalled that his launch as a villain gained attention, and he took on the role trusting the director’s vision.
Referring to a disturbing scene from Woh Lamhe, Shaad spoke about portraying a moment where his character assaults Kangana’s, triggered by her aggressive behavior at a party. It was his first experience with such an intense scene, and Mohit made sure he felt comfortable before shooting.
Mohit reportedly advised him not to play the part like a stereotypical villain but rather as someone emotionally affected by the girl. He told Shaad to portray the character with emotional depth, as someone who feels wronged, instead of someone outright malicious. This advice helped Shaad approach the role with a different mindset, making the performance more layered.
Shaad also shared that he met Mohit for the first time during the making of Tumsa Nahin Dekha, where the latter worked as an assistant. At that point, Shaad was still struggling to find a foothold in the industry. Mohit had promised to work with him someday, a promise he fulfilled with Woh Lamhe.
More recently, Shaad reunited with Mohit Suri for Saiyaara, a project that is reportedly doing well at the box office. Despite usually playing supporting characters, Shaad believes that now may be the right time for him to take on a more prominent role.
He feels ready to leave a lasting impact on audiences with a well-written second lead character. Only time will tell if such an opportunity presents itself in the near future.
