As debate grows online, the veteran actor stands firm, saying cinema shouldn’t be boxed into political labels. He credits the film’s writing and scale for its success, even as controversy continues to swirl.
Rakesh Bedi shuts down ‘propaganda’ tag.
It’s getting spicy in Bollywood again, and this time, it’s not just about box office numbers, but also about what counts as “propaganda.” Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi has stepped into the conversation with full confidence.
‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is currently riding high on applause, with many viewers loving its scale and storytelling. But not everyone is clapping. A section of the audience has called the film “propaganda,” sparking heated debates online.
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Amid this noise, Rakesh Bedi is standing firmly by his film. In a recent chat with NDTV, the actor made it clear that he doesn’t see cinema through a political lens.
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Addressing the criticism head-on, Bedi shared a calm but sharp take. He said he doesn’t believe in labelling films as “pro” or “anti” establishment. According to him, every viewer has the right to like or dislike a film, but boxing it into political categories is unfair.
More importantly, he pointed to what really matters: audience response. And as per him, the verdict is loud and clear, people are enjoying the film.
Defending ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ against the growing “propaganda” chatter, Rakesh Bedi said, “I don’t believe in politics. I believe in cinema. Everybody has the right to like or dislike a film, but I don’t think it’s right to put a film into some kind of category, whether it’s pro-establishment or anti-establishment.”
Here’s where things got a little more dramatic.
Without directly naming anyone at first, Bedi compared ‘Dhurandhar’ to recent political biopics. He mentioned films made on figures like Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi, hinting that they couldn’t sustain audience interest even for a couple of days.
That comment quickly drew attention because of Kangana Ranaut and her film Emergency.
For context, ‘Emergency’, a historical drama based on the 1975-77 Emergency period, featured Kangana as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Despite the buzz, the film struggled at the box office and reportedly earned only ₹18.40 crore worldwide.
Bedi didn’t stop there. He credited the film’s strong writing and screenplay as the real reasons behind its success. According to him, audiences are witnessing something fresh, both in terms of storytelling and scale.
His confidence reflects in film’s performance too. Despite online criticism, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ continues to attract viewers and hold steady at box office.
While some critics are questioning film’s intent, many moviegoers seem to be enjoying it without overthinking the politics. And that gap between online outrage and theatre applause is exactly what Bedi is highlighting.
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