Dhurandhar actor Rakesh Bedi confirms he has a bigger role in Part 2, praises Ranveer Singh and director Aditya Dhar - Exclusive

Rakesh Bedi plays the evil Jameel in Dhurandhar

Ranveer Singh's starrer actioner Dhurandhar was released in theaters to positive reviews today (December 5). The film by ace director Aditya Dhar, the man behind superhit Uri: The Surgical Attack, features an ensemble cast including veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal and Akshaye Khanna.

For decades, Rakesh Bedi has been one of those instantly recognizable faces of our entertainment industry whose mere presence, even in fleeting scenes, could elevate comedy, add warmth, or trigger nostalgia.

But in 2025, Dhurandhar has become a turning point for him, as it showcases a different side of the veteran actor that has been left unexplored.

The action film is drawing early praise not just for its scale but for the sharply etched characters that form a part of its universe.

Rakesh Bedi’s role as a cunning Pakistani politician, Jameel, stands out from the entire cast. It is a performance shaped by subtle humor, quiet menace, and a director’s unshakable faith.

In an exclusive chat with Moneycontrol on the day of the film's release, Rakesh Bedi said it was a promise made by Aditya Dhar that he fulfilled with Dhurandhar. Rakesh Bedi also said that it's Aditya who has been able to tap his real worth as an actor after noted director Kundan Shah.

Also Read: Ranveer Singh’s action thriller Dhurandhar 2 confirmed, set for March 2026 release

“I told you I will pay you back; I’m paying you back now with a very good role,” director Aditya Dhar told Rakesh Bedi when offering him the part, honoring a promise he had made four years earlier during the shoot of Uri.

Rakesh Bedi recalled the moment and said his role in Uri was very brief. “When I worked in Uri, my entire work was in Serbia. Aditya had kept an entire shift just for me. My first shot was at 2 pm and by 4:30 pm it was pack-up. He was so happy with my inputs, he told me that day, ‘I will pay you back,'" Rakesh Bedi told us over the phone from Mumbai.

And four years later, Rakesh Bedi says that debt came in the form of Jameel's role. It has complexity, layers, and screen time that allow the seasoned actor to break free from decades of typecasting.

“When I heard the role, I was thrilled. I was so happy that he trusted me and believed I could deliver," he said.

Jameel is not your regular villain but, in Rakesh Bedi’s own words, is a man who is “actually violent but doesn’t do the violence himself.”

“He gets people killed while smiling. He’s always planning whom to kill, whom to push ahead, and whose carpet to pull. He knows how to remain in power irrespective of the government," he said with infectious laughter while describing the character.

Rakesh Bedi said it was his idea to play the part with a subtle comedic tilt. “This is not a comic role. But I sprinkled small humor—not written humor, but things like a walk, a look, and a smile. I didn’t want to tamper with the script," he added.

The result is a character whose menace derives from his lightness—a political player who can order a murder as casually as asking for tea.

Rakesh Bedi revealed to us that Dhurandhar is only half the story and his real character will come out in part 2, which is going to be released in March next year.

“The role you will see, that’s only half. The rest is in Part Two. I have a bigger role in part 2,” he said.

If there is one moment that Rakesh Bedi carries with him from this film, it’s a soft-spoken confession from director Aditya Dhar.

“When the film was nearing completion, many actors were finishing their last day and there were farewells being held. One day, Aditya, the director, came to me quietly, with emotion in his eyes, and said, ‘Rakesh sir, when it’s your last day, I will cry. There was so much respect and appreciation for how he felt about my work and conduct," he said.

Rakesh Bedi said this one line was more meaningful than any money or praise.

Rakesh was all praise for the film's lead actor, Ranveer Singh, who also added his own public salute. “On my last day, Ranveer took the mic and said, ‘Whatever business this film does, Rs 1000 crore usme se 500 crore would be because of Rakesh sir," he added. "He said it to make me happy, but it shows how much he respects every actor.”

During the course of the interview, we asked if he was stereotyped in the industry; to this Rakesh Bedi said, "If someone says I’m stereotyped because I do comedy, I don’t mind. I’m happy. I love humor.”

Comedy, he says, is not a fallback; it is a craft. "Humor is everywhere. You have to find it, polish it, and present it. A punchline needs proper cooking.”

Rakesh Bedi said he believes that Dhurandhar's greatest strength is that it treats its ensemble with dignity.

“Yes, we are five or six main characters. But there are many fantastic artists with well-defined roles. You will enjoy their performances.”

It’s a lesson big-ticket films often forget: supporting characters aren't ornamental; they are narrative infrastructure.

‘Dhurandhar’

“Ranveer knows that every actor’s contribution is as important as his own. That’s what makes him special.”

When asked about rising violence on screen, Rakesh Bedi laughed gently at the notion that this is a new phenomenon.

“Tell me when violence wasn’t there? Dharam ji was called He-Man—not because of romance. If it was romance, he would’ve been called Love-Man. Amitabh Bachchan’s early career was with Angry Young Man and that was violence too. Technique has changed. Thinking has changed. That’s it," he says, making a strong statement.

Perhaps the most insightful part of the conversation comes when Rakesh Bedi speaks about OTT.

“OTT has been a game changer—not just for actors. Now your work is not limited to your country. With dubbing and AI, people around the world watch it overnight. You have to meet international standards. Content is being made in huge quantities and actors are getting chances. It’s no longer like the 70s–80s, where only the hero had visibility," he added.

For someone who has worked across theater, TV, and film, this shift feels liberating.

Rakesh Bedi shares a remark from Aditya Dhar that stays with him: “Sir, people haven’t explored you properly. I will show them what you are.”

In a career spanning more than four decades, Rakesh Bedi has produced countless memorable characters. Yet this film feels like a transformation, not because the audience discovered him, but because a director insisted he deserved to be seen differently.