Bollywood actor Rakesh Bedi, who is currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has opened up about the harsh realities of hierarchy in the film industry. In a recent interview, the veteran actor recalled an incident from a film set where he was denied his due payment, while a leading star was prioritised, an experience that left a lasting impression on him.

Rakesh recalled, “Mujhe yaad hai ek baar main shooting kar raha tha aur mujhe paise ki bahut zarurat thi. Aur usmein hero tha ek bada, main naam nahi loonga. Producer set pe aaya to uske haath mein paison ka packet tha. I could see that there is money in it. To maine kaha, ‘Sir, meri instalment due hai, mujhe paise chahiye.’ Usne kaha, ‘Yaar abhi to paise nahi hai.’ To mere muh se nikal gaya, maine kaha paise to hai’. He said, ‘Yaar, hero ko dene hai yeh’… And I realised that this is how it works (I remember once I was shooting and I was in urgent need of money. There was a big star in the film, I won’t name him. The producer came to the set with a packet of cash in his hand. I could tell there was money in it. So I said, ‘Sir, my instalment is due, I need the payment.’ He replied, ‘I don’t have the money right now.’ It just slipped out of my mouth; I said, ‘But there is money.’ He said, ‘This is for the hero’).”

He explained that everything has an equity and it keeps changing. “At that time, I convinced myself that this is the norm and you have to live with it. If I or any other actor is getting a hierarchy, it doesn’t mean main dusre waale ko kum samjhun yaa neecha samjhun yaa inhuman treat karoon. Main kisi bhi dressman se aapni joote nahi pehanwata, most actors pehanwate hain. Mujhe lagta hai voh demeaning hai (I shouldn’t consider others inferior or treat them as lesser or inhuman. I don’t make any dressman put my shoes on for me; most actors do. I feel that’s demeaning),” he said.

In his recent release, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, fans praised his performance as Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali and appreciated his character arc. The film, which also stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun, has emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever, collecting over ₹1,750 crore worldwide at the box office.

Vijay will be seen next in Ranabaali, which will also star Rashmika Mandanna. It is Vijay and Rashmika’s third film after Geetha Govindam (2018) and Dear Comrade (2019), and their first after marriage. The movie is set against a British-era backdrop and will be made as a period action drama. Set in the 19th century, the film is based on real historical events that took place between 1854 and 1878. While the music of the film is by Ajay and Atul, Pramod Tammineni is the writer.

The press release note read, “Ranabaali is inspired by real incidents from the 1850s that never found space in mainstream history books. Based on Real incidents in the time period of 1850-1900, incidents the British strategically misrepresented in History and characters they maligned as Savages and Rebels. This is not a biopic, and not a textbook retelling. Ranabaali is a cinematic reconstruction of an era built from multiple real accounts, oral histories, and suppressed records.” It is set to release in theatres on September 11.

Poet and commentator Kumar Vishwas has weighed in on the ongoing debate around Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, a franchise that has sparked divided reactions online, with some calling it “propaganda.” Speaking in an interview with Zingabad, Vishwas shared his perspective, backing the film while addressing the larger conversation around storytelling and narrative bias.Vishwas began by revealing that Dhurandhar marked a rare cinematic outing for him.“Yes, after a very long time I watched a film. In fact, I watched a film in a theatre after almost 15 years.”

‘Wasn’t that also propaganda?’

Responding to claims that the film pushes a certain agenda, he drew a comparison with global cinema.“Look, Steven Spielberg made Schindler’s List. He is Jewish, and his family are survivors of Hitler’s atrocities. It took years to make and won several Oscars. Wasn’t that also propaganda in some sense?”He added that every filmmaker brings their own worldview to the screen.“Any filmmaker brings their own thought process. Aditya Dhar has his own perspective. He is a displaced Kashmiri.”Vishwas also suggested that narratives have long existed in cinema, but reactions differ depending on who tells them.“Yes, they have. Now if someone else has made a film with effort, craft, and detailing, suddenly it becomes a problem.”

‘Even if it is propaganda, against whom?’

Addressing the core criticism, he questioned the intent behind the narrative.“I’m not saying that. I’m saying—even if it is propaganda, the question is: against whom?”He further added, “If it is against Pakistan, then why should Indians object? When enemies of the country are shown being eliminated, would you clap or criticise?”Referring to portrayals inspired by real-life figures, Vishwas said, “If someone who attacked India is shown being punished, and is speaking to India’s National Security Advisor saying ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ would you applaud or object?”“At least 10% of what we wish for—if that is shown—why not appreciate it?”