Showing posts with label Rakesh Bedi interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rakesh Bedi interview. Show all posts
I don’t want to be tied to one show like a bandhua mazdoor-Rakesh Bedi
9:39 AM
Neha Maheshwri (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 25, 2026)
With Jameel Jamali in Dhurandhar adding another memorable character to his repertoire, Rakesh Bedi is enjoying a phase where he can move freely between films, OTT and theatre. While the veteran actor continues to make occasional appearances in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and also in the recently concluded Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, he has little inclination to return to the 25-day-a-month grind of a daily soap.
He says, “I make appearances in Taarak Mehta mainly because I also want to remain relevant to today’s generation. But I can’t commit 25 days a month to one show anymore. Main bandhua mazdoor nahi banna chahta. Why should I give 25 days to one thing when I can do 20 other things? I do theatre, write plays, direct, travel, do films and OTT projects, and also take lectures on acting. Everything would have to be put on hold if I were stuck with one project indefinitely.”
The financial security and visibility that television offers are not priorities for Bedi. He adds, “I just want to satisfy my hunger as an actor. Money is not everything. Maybe I am earning less than what others are earning, but I don’t mind that.”
His 48-year association with theatre has shaped his approach to acting and continues to inform the way he builds his characters.
He recalls, “For my show, Shrimaan Shrimati, the note sent by the director and writer was simply that he was a henpecked husband. But taking it beyond that and making the character memorable is an actor’s job. What comes into play in all these things is my theatre background of 48 years, without a single gap in any month. Meri life mein koi aisa mahina nahi hai jab maine manch par kadam nahi rakha, except during COVID. Theatre allows you to experiment a lot.”
I believe an actor who becomes frustrated burns out very quickly-Rakesh Bedi
4:52 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2026)
If Dhurandhar has been a disruptor in Indian cinema, Rakesh Bedi has emerged as one of its biggest rediscoveries. Nearly five decades into a career spanning cinema, TV and theatre, the veteran has won widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Jameel Jamali, proving that one role can remind audiences of an actor’s enduring brilliance.
‘Dhurandhar was a result of one scene in Uri’
Citing his role of Khabrilal in Tirangaa (1993) as an example, he says, “No matter the role, big or small, I always worked honestly and to the best of my ability. When Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) was being made, I received several calls from the production, but I kept refusing because I didn't want to do just one scene. Finally, Aditya Dhar called me. At the time, I barely knew him. He told me, ‘Sir, whenever I reach this page in the script, I can only think of you for this part. Now you tell me, will you do it or not?’ I was overjoyed. Since then, Aditya and I have shared great mutual respect.”
‘The maine sabki chhutti kar dee mindset is a dangerous zone’
At the sequel’s screening, Arjun Rampal told him, “Aap sabko khaa gaye.” Bedi smiles at the memory but is careful not to let the compliment go to his head. He says, “That was his way of appreciating my performance. Everyone has done justice to their role. So did I. It's just that my part took a bigger slice of the pie.”
The veteran is equally mindful of not allowing success to inflate his ego. Clarifying a recent remark about finally feeling like a star, he says, “I don’t have the feeling that I am a star. I said it in reference to the love I have received after Dhurandhar. If that’s what people call stardom, so be it. I never assume that maine sabki chhutti kar dee. That mindset can be dangerous. It can get into your head, and luck or fortune can humble you overnight. Main uss zone mein nahi jaata ki main bahut phail jaaun.”
‘I believe an actor who becomes frustrated burns out very quickly’
Jameel Jamali has revealed a side of Bedi that even many within the industry hadn’t seen before. Yet, he has never measured his career by the opportunities he missed.
He says, “One thing about me is that I have never been frustrated. I believe an actor who becomes frustrated burns out very quickly. If I keep dwelling on what I didn’t get, it will only breed anger, and sooner or later, that will reflect in my work and behaviour towards colleagues ki tum nahi jaante main kya hoon. Arre bhai, nahi jaante tum kya ho, lekin tumko jo kaam diya hai, usko toh theek se karo. I never want to get into that space.”
‘Amjad Khan didn’t become an overnight star with Sholay’
If there’s one thing Bedi wants younger actors to remember, it is to let the work speak louder than the trappings of stardom. He says, “Aap jo bhi kaam kar rahe hain, usko achha kijiye. Uska kahin na kahin aage jaa kar asar padta hi hai. A lot of newcomers focus more on the frills than on the work, like meri vanity, mere dry fruits, and everything that comes with stardom.”
Drawing from Bollywood history, he adds, “We often think Amjad Khan became an overnight star after Sholay (1975). He didn’t. Before that, he had done around 10 films, playing small parts, sometimes just a scene or two. But whatever he did, he did well. The same is true of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Pankaj Tripathi. I’m not saying you should accept completely inconsequential roles with a single dialogue like, ‘Yeh aapka letter aaya hai,’ or ‘Maine injection laga diya hai. Baaki Bhagwan par bharosa rakhiye.’ Luck plays a huge role, but it isn’t in your control. What is in your hands is doing every role with honesty, dedication and complete focus.”
‘I have to choose my roles diligently and carefully’
Finding a director who can look beyond an actor’s established image, Bedi believes, can be career-defining.
He says, “Ye iss industry ki vidambana hai that once you’ve played a certain kind of role, people tend to see you only through that lens. They either can’t or don’t imagine you differently. They often cast whoever is available and fits the budget. Very few filmmakers are willing to wait for an actor rather than compromise on their vision. That kind of faith gives an actor tremendous confidence. It’s always a two-way street.”
He concludes, “After Dhurandhar, people have expectations from Rakesh Bedi. So, I have to choose my roles more diligently and carefully. Whatever I achieved in Dhurandhar, I owe equally to Aditya Dhar. He wrote a wonderful part, and I’m grateful he entrusted me with it.”
My followers have now tripled; sleep has reduced, but I find my peace-Rakesh Bedi
10:27 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 12, 2026)
Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi is riding a renewed wave of success with Dhurandhar The Revenge, and life, he says, has taken a dramatic turn. “Sleep has reduced, but I find my peace. Otherwise, you won’t survive. Interviews, podcasts, brand shoots, endorsements, plays and reels are taking up a lot of my time — and I’m enjoying it,” he tells us.
The 71-year-old says while he has seen several successful phases in his career, this one feels distinctly different. “I’ve had wonderful phases before — Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), Chashme Buddoor, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984), Shrimaan Shrimati (1994) — but this is something else. We didn’t have social media then. Today, success multiplies instantly, and even negativity can be managed just as quickly,” he says.
Bedi points to the impact of digital platforms on his popularity: “Before Dhurandhar, I had around 2 lakh followers, which have now tripled. I used to wonder how influencers get millions of followers, what do they even do? Today, a reel can achieve overnight what once took years. I’m still trying to process it, but I’m going with the tide.”
With offers pouring in, the actor says he is trying to strike a balance. “I’m getting a lot of work and trying to manage as much as I can, keeping my age and physical limitations in mind. I am also saying no to some things,” he admits.
At the same time, Bedi is aware that such success is rare. “Matching the expectations now will be tough, not just for me, but for everyone involved... These are once-in-a-lifetime moments, and not everyone gets them,” says the actor.
Up next, he will be seen in David Dhawan’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and the OTT series Raakh. “There are other projects too, but it’s too early to talk about them,” the actor signs off.
Nabil Gabol comparisons
Addressing comparisons with Pakistani politician Nabil Gabol, Bedi, who plays Jameel Jamali in the film, a character inspired by the real-life politician, says, “We may resemble each other, but that doesn’t mean I’ve impersonated him. I haven’t copied him at all. Initially, after the first part, he was a bit upset and even considered legal action. But after the sequel, he’s grown fond of me.”
I had said Dhurandhar will not just raise the bar but break the bar because people will see it baar baar-Rakesh Bedi
8:56 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2026)
Rakesh Bedi has built a career on consistency and craft, quietly shaping performances that linger long after the scene ends. With Dhurandhar, his portrayal of Jameel Jamali has once again drawn attention to a range that has always existed, even if not always fully tapped. Over the years, he has been part of films like Coolie No. 1, Gadar 2 and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, as well as popular television shows including Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Zabaan Sambhalke, Shrimaan Shrimati, Yes Boss, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
He shares, “When the first installment was released, I had said this film will not just raise the bar but break the bar because people will see it baar baar (laughs!). That was my gut feeling after seeing kis shiddat aur mehnat se yeh film banaayi jaa rahi thi. After watching my work in it, the feeling was like having a good feast. I felt full and satisfied.”
For Bedi, the size of a role has never defined its value. He says, “It’s not important whether you are playing a big role or a small one. Bobby Deol scored in a role that may not have been the lead in Animal. It’s about leaving an impact. Aapne kuchh kiya ki aadmi bole ki ek scene mein kamaal kar diya. I had the opportunity to do one scene in Uri, and Dhurandhar has been a result of that.”
He also points to the importance of filmmakers who are willing to see beyond familiar labels. He says, “Rarely does a filmmaker say he wants only one actor and is willing to wait. When a director shows that kind of confidence and says, ‘I only want Rakesh Bedi,’ then the actor feels, ‘Ab toh main bhi jaan laga doonga’. You have to repay that faith.”
Lockdown mein main almost Dilruba ban chuka hoon-Rakesh Bedi
8:18 AM
Aprajita Sharad (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 4, 2020)
Since a normal day for Rakesh Bedi, 65, during Coronavirus lockdown, involves helping around the house, he says there isn’t much difference between him and Dilruba, his character in Shrimaan Shrimati. Sharing his happiness over the return of the ’90s sitcom to television, Bedi says, “Lockdown mein main almost Dilruba ban chuka hoon, khali main bol normal raha hoon.”
“My wife does the jhaadu and I do the pocha, and once in a while I make the bed, too. My two daughters also do a little bit of cooking under my wife’s supervision,” shares the actor.
Bedi believes that the timing couldn’t be better for the show’s rerun. “It will add a lot of flavour and humour in everybody’s life, as everyone is so sombre right now. Jab yeh serial shuru hua, meri wife baith ke dekh rahi thi aur main dusre kamre mein tha. I ran to her when I heard her laughing aloud… She said, ‘Maine dekha hi nahi tha yeh wala episode aapka’.”
Mention to him that the countrywide lockdown has ensured that husbands and wives are together 24x7, and Bedi quips, “Chat karne ka mauka hi nahi mil raha husbands ko, kyunki wife bilkul samne hoti hai! Phone haath mein pakadte hain toh darr jaate hain ki biwi phone le legi.”
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