New Delhi: Actor Rakesh Bedi is being called the real D in Dhurandhar. As Jameel Jamali, the 71-year-old actor has a significant role in the recently released sequel.
He said he feels fortunate to be part of such a large-scale project.
“Dhurandhar is today’s Sholay,” Bedi told ThePrint over a telephone conversation. “In terms of scale, the frenzy it has generated, and above all, it is a blockbuster hit.”
Bedi began his acting career with Ahsaas in 1979 and went on to feature in several iconic Hindi films like Chashme Buddoor (1981) and Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981). With 45 years across films and theatre, Bedi has remained consistently active in the industry. However, he said he never expected to land a role like Jameel Jamali at this stage in his life.
“Iss umar mein yeh film karna badi baat hai mere liye (At this age, being part of such a big film is a huge deal for me). Dhurandhar will definitely be among the top three films of my career,” he said.
Call a spade a spade
While the actor is focusing on the love audiences are showering, he is also paying attention to the criticism and allegations surrounding the film.
“The problem in India is that if you call a spade a spade, you are labelled a propagandist,” he said.
According to Bedi, those questioning the film’s authenticity should point out exactly what they believe is inaccurate.
“Either say it didn’t happen, or accept the truth, muh chupane ki jagah nahi hai (they don’t have a place to hide their faces),” he said, adding that even the “chaiwala” statements by Pakistani leaders are available online for public consumption. It isn’t fictional.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge also has snippets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation speech, underlining how the decision was taken to dismantle the fake currency being printed in Pakistan. Bedi rejects the idea that the film attempts to justify demonetisation.
“Do you think a Prime Minister would just wake up and make such a decision without reason? There must have been inputs, intelligence, and context behind it,” he said.
Bedi urged the critics to focus on the cinematic experience.
“I have a message for all film critics, sometimes you should just sit back, enjoy the film, appreciate the craft, the storytelling, the art. Why are they fixated on one thing: ‘propaganda’,” he said.
He also took aim at the growing culture of instant criticism on social media. Regardless of whether someone gives Dhurandhar a 1/10 or a 10/10, Bedi isn’t a fan of the growing number of “so-called” film reviewers on social media.
“Today, anyone with a phone, hands and a tongue thinks they are a film critic. I ask them, ‘Who are you? What knowledge of films do you have to call yourself a critic? How much do you understand films?” he said.
“An actual film critic reflects, revisits, stays with the film after finishing it and then forms an opinion,” Bedi added.
Also read: Dhurandhar’s Bangkok shoot shows there is no Ease of Filming in Mumbai for Bollywood
On Aditya Dhar & Ranveer
Bedi revealed he was the first actor to be cast in the film. He had previously worked with Dhar in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), where he played a senior ISI officer.
“On the last day of that shoot, Aditya told me, ‘You have done a small role for me now, but in my next film, I’ll give you something bigger. I have a character which only you can play.’ Of course, he didn’t give the details that time. And, he kept his word,” Bedi recalled.
The 71-year-old has high praise for Dhar, even as the director is being criticised by figures like Dhruv Rathee, being called “BJP propagandist.”
Bedi describes Dhar as a composed and highly skilled filmmaker.
“He’s an exceptional storyteller and technician. Even in difficult situations, he remains calm, there’s no chaos or shorgull around him. He is someone who wears his head tight on the shoulders,” he said.
Working with Dhar may have left him feeling fulfilled as an actor, but watching Ranveer Singh perform left Bedi amazed. He acknowledged that Singh has often been mocked or trolled for his high energy. But for his performance in Dhurandhar, where Singh plays the lead role of Hamza, Bedi has nothing but praise.
“He is a dynamite,” Bedi said. “Ranveer is a package of energy, but more importantly, he knows how to control it when to push and when to hold back.”
Bedi added that many actors today lack that kind of range, and are unable to unleash themselves.
“They say they don’t want to overdo it, but the truth is, they often don’t have the energy to go there. Ranveer does. And, he knows exactly how to use it,” he said.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)