Randeep Hooda is set to return to OTT with Inspector Avinash Season 2. As we are now in an era where streaming platforms are flooding audiences with slow-burning, gritty crime cop dramas, the actor aims to break this mould.
In a recent interview, Hooda and the series director, Neeraj Pathak, spoke in detail about the upcoming sophomore season.
Randeep Hooda is no stranger to the khaki uniform. From Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai to Kick, he has worn the badge many times. In fact, he initially told director Neeraj Pathak that he didn’t want to hear another “cop script”.
However, the story of real-life Uttar Pradesh super-cop Avinash Mishra proved too compelling to ignore. For Hooda, the appeal lay in the friction between a gritty 1990s setting and a character who isn’t afraid to have a little fun.
“I just try to select whatever it is that fascinates me at that particular moment,” Hooda says, reflecting on a career built on unpredictable choices.
One of the most distinct features of Inspector Avinash is the protagonist’s habit of addressing the camera directly. While Pathak introduced this “fourth-wall-breaking” technique to give the audience a window into Avinash’s internal monologue, Hooda was initially sceptical.
“I had only seen it in House of Cards (Netflix),” the actor admits. But the gamble paid off. Viewers loved the technique and connected more strongly with the series.
Fresh off his experience in the Hollywood blockbuster Extraction and the upcoming Matchbox with John Cena, Hooda brought a refined perspective on action to the set. He initially pushed for a hyper-realistic approach, questioning the “South Indian masala” flair the action directors were aiming for.
Also, Hooda didn’t mince words when it came to the current state of digital content. “I find a lot of crime dramas on OTT quite boring. I cannot sit through them anymore,” he stated. For him, the trend of one-hour slow burners often misses the point of cinema.
He believes that Inspector Avinash Season 2 aims to be the antidote: short, punchy episodes that prioritise narrative momentum over artistic indulgence. “Nobody wants a psychology lesson late at night,” Hooda quips.
In a world where actors often find a niche and stay there for safety, Randeep Hooda continues to take risks. With Inspector Avinash Season 2, he’s attempting to prove that crime dramas can be smart, stylish, and, most importantly, never boring. The second season premieres on 15 May on JioHotstar. Stay tuned for more updates.
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
