He left his IIT exam, joined Film and TV institute. Then, came to Mumbai with no godfather. 49 years later, Bollywood actor stole the show in Rs 2,000 crore blockbuster movie

Director Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar franchise may have created history at the box office and earned praise for its direction, music, and performances, but one name that audiences cannot stop talking about is Rakesh Bedi. The veteran actor has won widespread appreciation for his portrayal of Jameel Jamali in Dhurandhar and its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge. His performance has been receiving love from viewers across the world, which led many of us to look back at the remarkable journey that brought him here.

The curious case of Rakesh Bedi

Long before he became a familiar face on Indian television and films, Rakesh Bedi grew up in a middle-class household in Delhi’s Karol Bagh. He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya Andrews Ganj, where his family hoped he would follow a conventional career path and become an engineer. However, the actor felt drawn towards acting from an early age.



According to the Humans Of Bombay report, in a defining moment of his life, Rakesh Bedi walked out of his IIT entrance examination midway after realising that his heart was not in engineering. Instead, he chose to pursue his passion and enrolled at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, where he received formal training in acting before moving to Mumbai to try his luck in the film industry, without any industry connections or a mentor to guide him.

Years of struggle and comic fame

Rakesh Bedi’s early years in Mumbai were far from glamorous. Like many newcomers, he struggled to find steady work and took on small and supporting roles just to make ends meet. Over time, his natural comic timing and expressive performances helped him secure roles in films and television, eventually appearing in more than 150 projects.


He became a household name through hit television shows such as Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Shrimaan Shrimati. These shows build his image as one of India’s most loved comic actors, though they also typecast him in similar roles for many years.

A turning point with serious roles

A major shift in his career came when Aditya Dhar cast him in a serious role in Uri: The Surgical Strike. The director wanted a sense of realism and believed Rakesh Bedi could bring authenticity to the character. Impressed by his dedication and discipline on set, the director later promised him a more substantial role in his future project.

That promise turned into reality when Bedi was offered the role of Jameel Jamali in the Dhurandhar films, a complex and layered political figure that allowed him to break away from his comic image and showcase his range as an actor.

Recognition after nearly five decades

Looking back at his journey, Rakesh Bedi shared that despite working in the industry for almost five decades, he had never experienced the level of recognition he is receiving today. He admitted that the appreciation coming his way now feels like the biggest moment of his career, something he had waited for over the years.

With the Dhurandhar franchise reportedly crossing Rs 2,000 crore globally, the 71-year-old actor has finally found himself at the centre of a blockbuster phenomenon.

At the box office, the Dhurandhar franchise has emerged as a massive success, with its total global earnings now touching around Rs 2,000 crore. It has also made history by becoming the only Indian film series to deliver two films that crossed the Rs 500 crore mark.

According to trade website Sacnilk, Dhurandhar 2 minted Rs 261.92 crore overseas on day 8 and now the total worldwide gross collection stands at Rs 1067.24 crore. The movie has surpassed the lifetime collection of Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan's Kalki 2898 AD at global box office.