Dhurandhar: The Revenge has crossed the lifetime collections of its first part within 11 days of release. But beyond the box office, the film has brought its actors into the spotlight. One such actor is Rakesh Bedi.
At 71, he plays Jameel Jamali, a slippery Karachi politician who smiles too much and means none of it.
The film opened big. Rs. 100 crore in advance bookings. Over Rs. 1,200 crore worldwide. But for many, this was also a rediscovery of Rakesh Bedi.
The Kid Who Left an IIT Exam For Theatre
Rakesh Bedi was born on 1 December 1954 in New Delhi. From early on, he was drawn to the stage.
At Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj, he won mono-acting competitions as early as Class II.
His father, an Indian Airlines engineer, had a different plan. He wanted him to become a mining engineer and sent him to IIT Delhi.
Bedi walked out of the exam in three minutes. He handed in his paper and left for theatre rehearsals.
Soon after, he convinced his father to let him pursue acting.
He joined Pierrot’s Troupe in Delhi and later trained at FTII Pune with Om Puri, Suresh Oberoi, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
That decision set the course for his life.
ALSO READ: Who is Gaurav Gera: Dhurandhar Actor Mohammad Aalam
No Backing, Just Talent
Mumbai was not easy. Bedi had no connections and no backing.
With just an FTII certificate and theatre experience, he took whatever roles came his way.
His first film was Hamare Tumhare (1979), a small role that got him through the door.
The breakthrough came with Chashme Buddoor (1981). The film made him a household name and earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Comic Actor.
Around the same time, he appeared in Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), directed by K. Balachander and starring Kamal Haasan. The role was noticed, but there was no social media to amplify it.
In cinema, people believe in typecasting. If I wasn't typecast, I wouldn't have survived for so many years.
- Rakesh Bedi told India Today
The TV Era: India's Comedy Actor
For TV audiences in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, Rakesh Bedi was everywhere.
He first stood out in Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984). Then came Shrimaan Shrimati (1994) and Yes Boss (1999), where he played Mohan Srivastava.
Off-screen, theatre remains his anchor.
In December 2025, speaking to India Today about a play in Arunachal Pradesh where he played 24 characters, he said, “Theatre keeps you mentally young and agile. It is like a knife. If you do not work on it, it gets rusted.”
ALSO WATCH: Arjun Rampal's thoughts on "hookup culture"
Jameel Jamali: The Role That Changed Everything
Jameel Jamali is sharp, calculating, and always smiling.
For the role, Bedi studied Pakistani political figures. He focused on their speech, gestures, and body language.
He also suggested adding subtle humour to certain scenes. Director Aditya Dhar was unsure at first. But after seeing Bedi perform, they developed the character together.
According to The Times of India, the portrayal draws from real-life politicians, with close attention to tone, diction, and delivery.
Across 50 years, he has appeared in more than 150 films and performed multi-character theatre.
At 71, he is part of a Rs. 1,200 crore franchise and trending again.
ALSO READ: The Doodh Soda That Predates Partition
