When Omung Kumar's 'Sarbjit' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, Randeep Hooda, who essays the title role, had given it a miss citing medical reasons.
<img title="Randeep Hooda " src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/25Randeep-Hooda-1.jpg" alt="Randeep Hooda " /> Randeep Hooda 
The actor had undergone an emergency appendicitis surgery in mid-April and apparently been advised against travelling since he was on a strict diet. There were also rumours about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who played his reel sister, not willing to share the platform with him.
Also read:&nbsp;<a title="Randeep Hooda hospitalised after collapsing on the sets of 'Sultan'" href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/randeep-hooda-hospitalised-after-collapsing-on-the-sets-of-sultan/17146153" target="_blank">Randeep Hooda hospitalised after collapsing on the sets of 'Sultan'</a>
However, sources have now told us the real reason behind Randeep doing a no-show &mdash; 'Sarbjit' was not being screened as part of the festival proceedings like other films, say, Anurag Kashyap's 'Raman Raghav 2.0', which premiered at the Directors' Fortnight section and had critics from around the globe reviewing it.
Says a source, "The makers wanted to premiere Sarbjit at the French Riviera because of Aishwarya, who is a regular at Cannes given her brand commitments. The idea was to just garner eyeballs."
<img title="Rumours suggested Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did not want to share the platform" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/may/25Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan-1.jpg" alt="Rumours suggested Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did not want to share the platform" /> Rumours suggested Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did not want to share the platform
Adds the source, "Randeep was not keen to just get dressed and photographed at the event. It was not as if they had been invited to showcase their film at the prestigious festival. The makers had themselves planned and paid for their trip as part of their marketing strategy."
Also read:&nbsp;<a title="Randeep Hooda's father and sister visit him at hospital in Delhi" href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/randeep-hoodas-father-and-sister-visit-him-at-hospital-in-delhi/17148177" target="_blank">Randeep Hooda's father and sister visit him at hospital in Delhi</a>
When we asked Randeep for a comment, he said, "I did not want to take a risk and worsen my health. I had been advised three weeks of rest post surgery, but was unable to do so due to my commitments. Moreover, there was no incentive for me to go (to Cannes). It was not that we were invited by the festival folk or that we were in the competition section. I just did not feel like going."
Meanwhile, the actor was in Bengaluru over the weekend for an event to celebrate World Whiskey Day. "That was my way of celebrating Sarbjit's success," he says. He also attended the naming ceremony of his friend's daughter while in the Garden City.

Karan Johar: In my 40s, my fear of failure has reduced considerably

Is what Randeep Hooda coolly says after days of speculation over his absence at the Cannes Film Festival 2016 premiere of his latest outing 'Sarbjit' which also starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Randeep Hooda: I just did not feel like going to Cannes

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Entertainment / Bollywood News / Article / Randeep Hooda: I just did not feel like going to Cannes

Randeep Hooda: I just did not feel like going to Cannes

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast