Actor Navneet Malik, known for his performances in The Freelancer, Heropanti 2, Love Hostel, Deewaniyat, and Aankh Micholi, will soon be seen portraying the young Sanjay Dutt in the much-awaited film The Bhootnii. The actor recently opened up about the pressures that come with being in the industry, including a rather bizarre suggestion he once received.

“Right before one of my earlier projects, someone casually suggested—‘Why don’t you and your co-star just spark some dating rumours? It’ll get people talking, build buzz.’ I was like… yeh kya ho raha hai?” he said, recalling the moment with disbelief.

“In Bollywood, it’s become a bit of a trend—just a few months before the release, spread that two co-stars are dating. Some people genuinely believe it’s a hit formula—romance rumours grab headlines, get you attention, and maybe more eyeballs for the project. For them, it was just another marketing trick, but for me, it felt wrong,” he added.

“Main mazak nahi bana sakta apni personal life ka. I come from a place where relationships actually mean something. I can’t fake a connection just to grab attention. Maybe that formula works for some, and that’s okay—but it’s not me. Mere liye meri izzat, meri sachchai zyada important hai,” he asserted.

Talking about how he wants to be perceived, Navneet said, “I’ve always believed people should talk about my work. Mujhe yeh sunna hai ki yaar, Navneet ka kaam dekha? Usne kya acting ki hai. Not ya main kisko date kar raha hoon. That shouldn't matter.”

“Haan, I get it—actors are influencers now,” he acknowledged. “But if I’m influencing anyone, I want to influence them to become better humans, to chase their dreams with honesty. Main yeh nahi chahta ki log sirf yeh jaane ki mere ghar mein kya ho raha hai. I want them to know how hard I’ve worked to reach here. If something real ever happens in my life, I won’t hide it—but I won’t use it for publicity either. That’s just not me,” he concluded.

On the work front, Navneet has impressed audiences with his versatility in The Freelancer, Heropanti 2, Love Hostel, Deewaniyat, and Aankh Micholi. Speaking about playing young Sanjay Dutt in The Bhootnii, he shared, “Portraying someone like Sanjay Dutt isn’t just a role — it’s a responsibility that sits heavy on your shoulders. I gave it my 200%, and honestly, it’s been nothing short of an honour. Working on this project and stepping into Baba’s shoes has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.”

Starring Sanjay Dutt, Mouni Roy, Sunny Singh, and Palak Tiwari in key roles, The Bhootnii is a horror-comedy scheduled to hit theatres on May 1, 2025.