Kamal Ghorui
The phenomenal success of ‘Dhurandhar’ is being seen not just as a major comeback for Ranveer Singh, but also as a turning point for its supporting cast, particularly veteran actor Rakesh Bedi. His portrayal of Jamaal Jameeli got a lot of love from the audiences, with the character quickly becoming a viral favourite on the internet. However, did you know that Bedi had almost said no to his first film with Aditya Dhar. Their connection dates back to 2019, when Dhar first approached him for a small yet impactful role in ‘URI: The Surgical Strike’. At the time, however, the actor was reluctant to take it on. Looking back on the moment during a chat with Farah Khan on her Youtube channel, he said, “I had refused URI because it had just one scene in Serbia.” He then pointed to his daughter Ritika and added, “But she insisted—‘Dad, he’s a new director and very promising. Please do the film.’” Backing her up, his wife shared, “Her argument was that if veterans refuse to work with new directors, it won’t be fair.” Ritika further explained, “It becomes a cycle, then nobody gets a chance.” Rakesh continued, “That’s when I agreed. Later, Aditya came and told me, ‘Sir, you have to do it.’”The conversation took a playful turn as Ritika joked, “That’s why I tell my parents, listen to us youngsters, you’ll benefit!” Farah laughed and told Rakesh, “See how much her advice helped you.” “It did indeed”, said Rakesh’s wife, smiling at her daughter.When Farah teased that Ritika deserved a reward, she quipped, “It’s already decided. I am getting my Range Rover soon.” Farah reacted in surprise, “Oh my God, really?”, while Rakesh and his wife dismissed it with laughter, joking, “She’s lying. She’s always been a feku since childhood.”Meanwhile, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ has been enjoying a remarkable box office run since its release on March 19, reportedly crossing Rs 1300 crore in India. The franchise overall has now gone past Rs 3000 crore, securing its spot among the biggest Indian film series.In ‘URI: The Surgical Strike’, Bedi played an ISI agent secretly working for RAW, a twist that clicked with viewers. A similar layered arc in ‘Dhurandhar’ has once again boosted his popularity, with his line “Bachcha hai tu mera” going viral and earning him renewed recognition, along with fresh offers and endorsement deals.
