Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, known for his role as the cunning Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali in Aditya Dhar's "Dhurandhar," has lauded co-star Akshaye Khanna's performance in the film. Bedi dismissed the notion of Khanna making a "comeback," emphasizing that the actor has consistently been a part of the industry.

In a recent interview, Bedi shared his thoughts on working alongside Khanna, who portrays Rehman Dakait in "Dhurandhar". He stated, "Akshaye was always in the game. He never stepped away". Bedi further explained, "Uski and humari films lagti rehti hai, koi kam chalti hai, koi zyada chalti hai but it doesn't mean he was out of the industry".

Bedi described Khanna's quiet and reserved presence on set, contrasting it with his own outgoing nature. "I am of the nature that I speak to everyone on set and crack jokes with everyone. Akshaye, however, is different," Bedi said. He added that Khanna would often sit quietly in a corner, reading or looking at his phone. Despite their differing personalities, Bedi revealed that their off-screen exchanges were deeply engaging, involving intellectual conversations and questions about each other's work.

Khanna's portrayal of Rehman Dakait has resonated strongly with audiences, with Bedi highlighting the character's layered appeal. He noted the character's flamboyance, amplified by the song "FA9LA," calling it a "lethal combination". Bedi compared Khanna to Shatrughan Sinha, noting that villains like Khanna often receive cheers and applause in theaters and become more beloved than the hero.

"Dhurandhar," directed by Aditya Dhar, has achieved significant box office success, crossing ₹800 crore. The film stars Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal alongside Khanna. Bedi also revealed details about "Dhurandhar 2," which is scheduled to premiere on March 19, 2026. He hinted that his character, Jameel Jamali, would be even more treacherous in the sequel.

Bedi believes that the anticipation surrounding "Dhurandhar 2" stems from the first film's narrative choices, which deliberately withheld closure. He shared an anecdote about a woman who expressed her eagerness to fast forward to the release date of the sequel, highlighting the audience's excitement.

"Dhurandhar" was released on December 5, 2025, receiving mixed-to-positive reviews, with praise for the cast performances, direction, cinematography, and action sequences. The film has grossed over ₹1,000 crore and has become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.