Rakesh Bedi Breaks Silence on His ‘Dhurandhar’ Role – In “Uri The Surgical Strike,” I played a small but memorable role—that of a Pakistani insider who provides crucial information to India. We finished that scene in just two hours. The shoot began at 2:30 and wrapped by 4:30. That very day, director Aditya Dhar smiled and said, “Rakesh sir, I will repay you for this.” This is often said in our industry, but this time it turned out to be true. In February of last year, I received a call from him, “I have a strong character in my new film. Please keep your dates free.” As soon as I read the script, I felt I had to play this role.
Why did you like my role in “Dhurandhar”?
First of all—this character is inspired by a real-life person. My entire look, body language… everything is very realistic. He’s a Pakistani politician—a leader found in every era, every country, who will go to any lengths to remain in power. He maintains complete control of his territory—whether it’s crime, murder, or gang war—all the strings are in his hands.
After reading the script, I realized that the character was extremely intense—a world of violence, politics, and fear. That’s when I told Aditya, “If you’re casting me, let me add a little humor… otherwise, the character will become too scary.” He was initially hesitant, but as we became a team, the character gained incredible layering.
I wouldn’t say the character is based on any one person—it’s more like a replica. There are many such stories in the world of espionage, politics, and society—we often read them in newspapers. This is a spy film, so there may be similarities. But even I don’t know any of the inside stories. Inspirations are a part of every creative work.
Will ‘Dhurandhar’ set a new standard in today’s times?
To be honest—yes.
The costumes, cinematography, performances, and action in the film are all of international standard. It’s been a while since we’ve seen action like this on the big screen. This film won’t just raise the bar… it will break it. Just as ‘Sholay’ set new standards in its time, ‘Dhurandhar’ will bring something new to the clutter of spy films. Everyone has a story, but what new you bring to the table is what makes the difference.
How have you stayed relevant in the industry for 50 years?
A simple rule—
“If you want to play the game, you have to stay within the game.”
I don’t chase work. 99% of the work comes to me.
When a director calls me for a role, he’s confident that I can deliver something new—that confidence is my strength.
My message to the new generation of actors
I conduct acting workshops across the country and meet new actors. I always say one thing:
1. Don’t chase stardom.
Stardom is a by-product of your good work.
Only those whose father is a big producer, director, or actor become stars suddenly.
Everyone else has to work hard—Amjad Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Pankaj Tripathi didn’t become stars overnight.
2. Whether the role is small or big—give importance.
I only had one scene in ‘Uri,’ but it was important. Impact, not screen time, is what matters.
3. Deadlines are always tough in the creative field.
It takes hours to set up a single shot.
If someone adds extra work, the actor should get their due—but this often doesn’t happen in the industry.
4. The situation in TV is even tighter.
Deadlines are nonstop.
I’ve even seen people faint on set.
Payments are received after three months.
We need to learn good things from the West—where the system is strong, and the artist is respected.
