Rakesh Bedi on Dhurandhar propaganda claims: Audience response speaks for itself
Rakesh Bedi defended Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar franchise amid propaganda claims, saying the film reflects truth and audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. He highlighted housefull shows and strong fan reactions as proof that the criticism does not match ground reality.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar franchise may be breaking box office records, but it has also sparked debate, with a section of viewers calling it “propaganda.” Addressing the controversy, actor Rakesh Bedi, who plays Jameel Jamali, has defended the film, dismissing the criticism and backing its narrative.
In an interview with Zoom, Bedi spoke in support of filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller, rejecting claims that it promotes a propaganda-driven storyline.
Bedi said that the film was timely, explaining that while there were critical comments in the initial days, audience response told a different story, with shows continuing to run housefull.
The actor recalled visiting a theatre in Delhi after the release, where a fan indicated he had watched the film ten times. Bedi added that the truth can often be difficult to see and understand, and he would have considered the film wrong only if it had exaggerated or portrayed events that never actually happened.
The 71-year-old actor said, "Yeh agar documentary hoti toh toh aap bolte wah wah kya baat hai. Aab kyunki yeh film hai aur paise kama rahi hai toh aapko digest nhi hua lekin jhut toh kuch bhi nhi hai (If it had been a documentary, people would have called it a great piece of work, but since it was a film making money, many were finding it hard to accept – despite there being no falsehood in it).”
Dhurandhar 2, released on March 19, 2026, is the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster that grossed over Rs 1300 crore worldwide. The franchise follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent, played by Ranveer Singh, who infiltrates Karachi’s criminal and political networks to dismantle terror operations targeting India.
The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.
Despite its commercial success and largely positive reception, the film has triggered a wider debate, with some viewers labelling it as propaganda. However, several industry voices, including Anupam Kher and Piyush Mishra, have also dismissed the claim, asserting that they do not view the film as a propaganda piece.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar franchise may be breaking box office records, but it has also sparked debate, with a section of viewers calling it “propaganda.” Addressing the controversy, actor Rakesh Bedi, who plays Jameel Jamali, has defended the film, dismissing the criticism and backing its narrative.
In an interview with Zoom, Bedi spoke in support of filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller, rejecting claims that it promotes a propaganda-driven storyline.
Bedi said that the film was timely, explaining that while there were critical comments in the initial days, audience response told a different story, with shows continuing to run housefull.
The actor recalled visiting a theatre in Delhi after the release, where a fan indicated he had watched the film ten times. Bedi added that the truth can often be difficult to see and understand, and he would have considered the film wrong only if it had exaggerated or portrayed events that never actually happened.
The 71-year-old actor said, "Yeh agar documentary hoti toh toh aap bolte wah wah kya baat hai. Aab kyunki yeh film hai aur paise kama rahi hai toh aapko digest nhi hua lekin jhut toh kuch bhi nhi hai (If it had been a documentary, people would have called it a great piece of work, but since it was a film making money, many were finding it hard to accept – despite there being no falsehood in it).”
Dhurandhar 2, released on March 19, 2026, is the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster that grossed over Rs 1300 crore worldwide. The franchise follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent, played by Ranveer Singh, who infiltrates Karachi’s criminal and political networks to dismantle terror operations targeting India.
The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.
Despite its commercial success and largely positive reception, the film has triggered a wider debate, with some viewers labelling it as propaganda. However, several industry voices, including Anupam Kher and Piyush Mishra, have also dismissed the claim, asserting that they do not view the film as a propaganda piece.
