In 2020, when Sonu Sood emerged as a messiah of sorts for labourers severely affected by the lockdown imposed by the Indian government, audiences were plagued with one question — how would any filmmaker justify casting Sood, who had until then, shone in negative roles, as a villain, ever again?

Sood had alluded that perhaps it was time for tides to turn in his favour, and indeed, they have. “Since the pandemic began, I have not been offered a single negative role. I’ve only been offered positive, larger-than-life, and heroic roles. The writers have modelled them according to my behaviour — a reflection of what I do in life. They are the roles that I have always wanted to play. But, being an outsider, it was not easy to convince people that I could pull off these films on my shoulders. Today, people across all film industries believe that I can do it. While several offers have been pouring in, I want to deliver what viewers expect from me.”