‘Dekhne wale ki nazar…’: Rakesh Bedi fires back at netizens accusing him of kissing Dhurandhar on-screen daughter Sara Arjun

Rakesh Bedi has dismissed baseless claims of kissing Sara Arjun at the trailer launch of Dhurandhar, saying he doesn’t need to defend himself as his work speaks for his character.

Dhurandhar is gangster saga set in Pakistan

Rakesh Bedi plays the politician Jameel Jamali and the father of actress Sara Arjun in the film.

Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has reignited several careers. On one hand, it has provided a much-needed box office respite for its leading star, Ranveer Singh; on the other, it has played a seminal role in the resurgence of Akshaye Khanna. Beyond this, the film has also brought veteran actor Rakesh Bedi back into the contemporary social media discourse. While Rakesh Bedi continues to receive praise for the comic relief he brings to an otherwise intense gangster saga through his portrayal of Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali, he has also faced criticism online. The controversy stems from a moment between him and 20-year old Sara Arjun, who plays his daughter, at the film’s trailer launch in November. Some on the internet claimed that when Rakesh Bedi leaned in to greet Sara on stage, it looked like he was kissing her shoulder, a claim that continues to circulate even a month later.

Now in a conversation with Hindustan Times, Rakesh Bedi clarified his stance, calling such allegations “stupid.” He said, “Sara is less than half my age and plays my daughter. Whenever we met during the shoot, she would greet me with a hug, just as a daughter would with her father. We share a nice rapport and camaraderie, which is also reflected on screen. It was no different that day, but people are not seeing the affection there. The affection of an elderly man towards a young girl. Dekhne wale ki aankh mein gadbad hai to kya kar sakte ho? (What can you do when people perceive it wrongly?).”

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He further emphasized that Sara’s parents, actor Raj Arjun and Sanya, were present at the Dhurandhar teaser launch. “Why would I kiss her with ill intent publicly on a stage? I mean, her parents were there. People are just crazy when they claim these things. They just need to create an issue out of nothing on social media.” He also addressed the importance of his body of work in speaking for his character and his career. “I tell you, I am not safeguarding myself. My voluminous body of work, which has touched people, is doing it for me. I recently went to a dinner with friends, and a lady approached me. Her son is physically and mentally challenged, but he loves my work and can comprehend it. That speaks more for me than anything will.”

Watch Rakesh Bedi take a deep dive into Dhurandhar

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Earlier, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, casting director Mukesh Chhabra praised Rakesh Bedi’s performance and the love he has received. “Almost every producer, director, or actor I know is taking his number from me and congratulating him. Some are even planning to cast him, and I’m so happy for him. I think he completely reinvented himself in this film, especially in the way he performed. He actually added his own humor to the character; it was never in the script.” Chhabra elaborated, “I think he spoke to Aditya and said, ‘I want to add another layer to this.’ He’s a great actor; when actors improvise, they always come up with new ideas. And Aditya is extremely collaborative. There’s no barrier with him; you can communicate freely and really speak your heart out.”

Recalling his first conversation with Rakesh Bedi for the film, Chhabra shared, “When I called Rakesh ji, I just told him, ‘It’s a very interesting character, you haven’t done anything like this, please do it.’ And he immediately responded, ‘Beta, main trust karta hoon tujhe, let’s do it’ (Son, I trust you, let’s do it).”

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