Known for portraying the God of Thunder in the MCU, Chris Hemsworth took on the role of a black ops mercenary Tyler Rake in the 2020 action thriller, Extraction. Starring alongside the Australian actor was Randeep Hooda, who also delivered a captivating performance as Saju Rav.
The 47-year-old Indian actor recently reflected on taking on the role in the Netflix film, as he shared that his decision wasn’t merely about cinematic opportunity, but a deliberate choice to shatter prevailing stereotypical notions about his country.
Extraction Actor Shared Insight into His Decision to Co-Star Alongside Chris Hemsworth
Directed by Sam Hargrave, and boasting an ensemble cast led by Chris Hemsworth, the 2020 film Extraction came as an opportunity for Randeep Hooda to redefine cultural representations on the silver screen. The actor recently reflected on his decision to star in the film in an interview with India Today.
Hooda shared that his decision to take on the role of Saju Rav was not only about sharing the spotlight with a global icon but also an effort from his side to assert Indian authenticity and complexity in mainstream Western cinema. He shared that he sought to diversify representations by embracing an action-oriented character.
There was a possibility of me doing another part in the movie, but I chose this part because, internationally, our image is not of action. It’s more people doing menial jobs like taxi drivers, clerks, accountants, scientists, doctors, and those are the roles that are more prevalent for Indians in Hollywood.
The actor shared that he wanted to break such depictions and the 2020 film provided him that opportunity and he’s very grateful for that. “It was probably one of the meatiest parts any Indian actor has had abroad,” he further said, adding that he’s proud of his work in the film.
Randeep Hooda Says Chris Hemsworth’s a Very Nice Guy
During his interview, Randeep Hooda also shared his experience working alongside the Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth. Praising his co-star, Hooda expressed admiration for Hemsworth, praising both his acting skills and his personality. “He’s great. He’s very funny. He looks very tough, but he’s hilarious and a very nice guy,” he said.
The Bollywood star also commended The Avengers star for his down-to-earth nature, emphasizing his genuine and approachable demeanor despite being a global superstar. “And he is the quintessential superstar of the world,” he said before adding, “But a very down-to-earth and very, very humble, sweet man. I really enjoyed working with him.”
While Hemsworth went on to reprise his role in the Extraction sequel, Hooda’s character was killed in the 2020 film. Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have shared their plans to extend the film series by exploring the characters from the first movie. However, no further developments have been shared regarding a potential spin-off. Netflix has also announced Extraction 3 with Hemsworth and Hargrave further extending the action thriller franchise.
Extraction film series is available to stream on Netflix.
