Randeep first refused to play the character because as he had already played the role of Dawood Ibrahim in D, he thought playing a cop in this film would be a step down for him, “To play a cop in a gangster heavy film, I thought it would be a step down for me. Milan spoke to me again and again and again. In fact, once I finished my part, they told me I had to shoot the entire part as an old man as earlier he was planned as a young man. So, I was like ‘What’s going on?’ That’s the reason Milan said that I refused it thrice. But I’m so glad I did it. In a gangster drama like Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai to stand out so much as a cope. And has its own cult following and dialogues being repeated overly. So I’m really glad and thankful to Milan Luthria for convincing and persuading me to be a part. I think Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai started a beautiful trend in my career. 10 years later, it’s still one of my strongest performances. That’s a good thing to know.
Randeep also revealed how he has keen on playing this part and didn’t look at any other part. “I don’t really look at other people’s role as such once I’m designated one. I was just apprehensive about this part. I didn’t really look at any other part.”
Talking about the memories which he relishes till date while shooting for the film, the actor remembered how he would laugh his heads off while discussing his dialogues with the writer of the film, Rajat Arora. “The real pompous and filmy nature of these filmy dialogues. He and I would have our little jokes over Old Smuggler (the drink). Once the take started, we did it with as much conviction as one could muster up and the results were just fantastic.”
