Rakesh Bedi's Career Resurgence with Dhurandhar Role and Sequel Insights
Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi is currently experiencing a significant career resurgence, largely attributed to his powerful performance in Aditya Dhar's 2025 blockbuster film, 'Dhurandhar.' At the recently concluded News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026, Bedi was honored with the Extraordinary Performance of the Year award for his portrayal of the villainous politician Jameel Jamali. While accepting the award for his work in the first installment, Bedi took the opportunity to share intriguing anecdotes about the highly anticipated sequel, 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' which is scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.
From Uri to Dhurandhar: The Casting Journey
In an exclusive interview with News18, Rakesh Bedi revealed the fascinating story behind how he landed the role of Jameel Jamali in Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar.' For those unaware, Bedi had a brief appearance as an ISI agent in Dhar's debut film, 'Uri: The Surgical Strike.' Impressed by this small but impactful role, Aditya Dhar approached Bedi years later with a character that was far more complex and menacing.
Bedi elaborated on the experience, stating, "The shoot was in Serbia. We had planned a full day's shoot, but we wrapped it up in just 2.5 hours. So Aditya said, 'Rakesh ji, I'll give you something nice; you've done me this favor and I will return it to you.' Many directors make such promises, but this man stood by his commitment. He had only told me one line—it's a role like this, he's a Pakistani minister, he does this, he does that—and then it was done! I read the script, and it all fell into place."
Meticulous Preparation for Authenticity
In an earlier interview with IANS, Bedi disclosed that he meticulously studied the speeches, diction, and body language of several real-life Pakistani politicians to bring authenticity to the character of Jameel Jamali. He explained, "The character is inspired by real incidents and is created by combining traits of multiple Pakistani politicians. I studied the speeches, tones, diction, and body language of many leaders—not just one. The look was designed by Aditya Sir along with the prosthetics team. I focused on the speech pattern, voice, mannerisms, and small nuances that give the character its authenticity."
What to Expect from Dhurandhar 2
On the red carpet, Bedi described the sequel as "lightning fast" and hinted that the character of Jameel Jamali will take an even darker turn. He teased, "There are so many things yet to be revealed that weren't even in the teaser trailer."
Addressing the humorous duck joke at the end of the 'Dhurandhar 2' trailer, Bedi shared, "It was not in the script. So I asked Aditya if ducks are going to be there, he said yes. I asked him if I could crack a joke. It was a serious and intense scene, and I thought let's lighten it up. Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal were present, and they all cracked up. There was huge laughter. I said, see it worked. Let's use it. Aditya agreed."
When questioned about the identity of Bade Sahab in 'Dhurandhar 2,' Bedi playfully denied any knowledge, joking that even if he knew, he couldn't reveal it. The sequel will feature Ranveer Singh reprising his role as Hamza Ali Mazari, also known as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, while the antagonist roles shift toward Arjun Rampal as Major Iqbal and Sanjay Dutt as SP Chaudhary Aslam.
