Rakesh Bedi Defends ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Against “Propaganda” Label, Takes Dig At Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’
Rakesh Bedi defended his film ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge' against “propaganda” claims.
The Indian box office has been set ablaze by the arrival of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ (popularly known as ‘Dhurandhar 2’). While the film is shattering records with unprecedented speed, it has also found itself at the centre of a heated socio-political debate. Amidst mounting claims from some quarters labelling the film as "propaganda," veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, who plays a pivotal role in the spy thriller, has come forward to defend the project while taking a pointed swipe at recent political biopics, including Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, ‘Dhurandhar 2’ is a high-octane follow-up to the 2025 blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’. The film delves into the murky world of espionage, featuring Indian intelligence agents infiltrating complex criminal and political networks. However, its themes have led some critics and social media users to categorize it as “propaganda” cinema.
Speaking on the matter, Rakesh Bedi – who portrays Jameel Jamali, a Pakistani politician – dismissed the allegations with a focus on cinematic merit over political messaging. Rakesh Bedi emphasized that the audience today is discerning and prioritizes entertainment and storytelling above all else.
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He noted that while people are quick to label any film with a nationalistic or political backdrop as propaganda, the ultimate verdict lies with the viewers. According to Rakesh Bedi, he believes in the power of "cinema" rather than the "politics" behind it, asserting that the public has the right to form their own opinions based on the theatrical experience.
“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. The verdict is that people are loving it,” he said in an interview with NDTV.
In a move that has quickly gone viral, Rakesh Bedi did not mince words when comparing the success of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ to other politically charged films. He specifically highlighted that films centred around high-profile political figures, such as Indira Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, failed to sustain interest at the box office.
Rakesh Bedi took an indirect yet clear dig at Kangana Ranaut’s 2025 film ‘Emergency’, stating that such films "didn't run for even two days" in theatres. By contrast, he pointed out that ‘Dhurandhar 2’ is receiving a "massive response" from the masses.
“Recently, there were films made on Indira Gandhi and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. These films didn’t run for even two days. Dhurandhar’s writing and screenplay are strong. People haven’t seen a film mounted on such a scale before,” he stated.
Rakesh Bedi further talked about the overwhelming response ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ has been getting and stated, “The expectations were already on the cards, and now they are out. Everybody is talking about the film very highly. So many shows are going on round the clock now. This is a mad frenzy which is going on. I’ve never seen something like this in my career at least. Many people have not seen this kind of a frenzy, madness, and euphoria for a film.”
The numbers certainly back Rakesh Bedi’s confidence. ‘Dhurandhar 2’ has scripted history by delivering one of the biggest opening days in the history of Bollywood. On its first day, the film collected an astonishing Rs 146 crore domestically, a figure that includes earnings from paid previews.
This performance has seen the film comfortably surpass the previous opening records held by Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’. The sheer scale of the opening indicates that the "propaganda" discourse has done little to deter moviegoers, who are flocking to see the star-studded ensemble in action.
The success of ‘Dhurandhar 2’ is also attributed to its powerhouse cast. The film features Ranveer Singh in a leading role, supported by a heavy-hitting lineup including Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun. Under the direction of Aditya Dhar, the film has managed to blend gritty spy craft with the big-screen spectacle that Indian audiences currently crave.
