Randeep Hooda Praises John Cena's Acting Skills Following Matchbox

Randeep Hooda has spoken out about his experience working alongside John Cena in the international project Matchbox: The Movie, offering high praise for the actor's professional abilities. The project marks another major step in Hooda's international acting career, bringing him together with a prominent ensemble and a familiar director.

Reflecting on his time sharing the screen with the wrestler-turned-actor, Hooda noted that Cena's public persona on social media differs significantly from his on-set work ethic. He observed that while Cena maintains a quirky online presence, he remains intensely focused during production.

According to Hooda, Cena delivers performances that exceed public expectations. Having shared direct scenes with him, Hooda stated that Cena is a much better actor than many people give him credit for, adding that the two actors bonded over a shared mutual inspiration in Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During the production, the co-stars also discussed Cena's substantial fan following across India. Hooda recalled talking with Cena about his widespread popularity in the region, noting that the star appreciates his Indian audience.

The conversation even touched on specific cultural moments, including a widely discussed blue suit that Cena previously wore in the country. Hooda remarked that Cena's fanbase spans across all age groups, reaching admirers anywhere from eight to eighty years old.

In addition to working with Cena, Matchbox: The Movie allowed Hooda to reunite with director Sam Hargrave, with whom he previously collaborated on the 2020 film Extraction. Hooda expressed genuine enthusiasm about the reunion, describing it as a gathering of many familiar crew members.

Hooda praised the creative direction provided by Hargrave for the new project, highlighting the quality of the action sequences and the specific character development crafted for him. The returning creative team gave the production the feel of a long-awaited reunion.

The international project arrives during a notable period for Hooda, who recently received his first National Film Award as a director for Ver Savarkar. Addressing whether the accolade will shift his career focus toward directing, Hooda emphasized that acting remains his primary passion.

However, he acknowledged that directing provides a distinct artistic fulfillment by bringing multiple creative disciplines together. Hooda confirmed he has been developing and writing new scripts as both a director and producer, indicating plans to return behind the camera once those projects are fully ready.

While future directing ventures remain on the horizon, Hooda's immediate professional focus is firmly anchored in his enduring dedication to performance both locally and internationally.