Rakesh Bedi Says ‘I Didn't Know It Was Prohibited’ As He Apologises For Using Prohibited Term ‘Harijan’

Success and scrutiny often go hand in hand in the film industry. Just as Dhurandhar continues to make headlines, one of its actors is now addressing a controversy that has resurfaced months after an old video first appeared.

The veteran actor, who has been appreciated for his performances in Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, recently issued a public apology after facing criticism over a term he used in an earlier interview. The controversy began when Azad Samaj Party’s Mumbai State President Kailash Jaiswar shared a video clip and objected to Bedi’s use of the word ‘Harijan’, which is considered inappropriate and is officially prohibited in India.

Jaiswar also stated that he reached out to the actor directly and urged him to address the matter

publicly. Following this, a video of Bedi apologising began circulating on social media.

कैलाश जैसवार ने फिल्म अभिनेता व धुरंधर फिल्म के जमील जमाली “राकेश बेदी” से माफी मंगवाईं. अभिनेता द्वारा दिए गए आपत्तिजनक बयान – डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर जी ‘हरिजनों’ के लिए लड़ाई लड़ते रहे, इस बयान पर मैंने राकेश बेदी से विडियो संदेश के जरिए माफी मंगवाईं।@AzadSamajParty मुंबई pic.twitter.com/obxYiB92ql

— Kailash Jaiswar (@kailashJai_ASP) April 5, 2026

In the video message, Bedi clarified that he was unaware of the term’s status and maintained that there was no intention to offend anyone. He said, “Namaskar friends, I am Rakesh Bedi. A few months ago, I posted a video in which I said that in our country, Bheem Rao Ambedkar ji worked a lot for Dalits, for Harijans and for people of backward society. He worked very hard for their upliftment. So now I have come to know that it is prohibited to use the word Harijan in our country. And I said it with a good intention that he worked very hard for Harijans and Dalits.”

He added, “But if my use of the word Harijan has offended a person or a society, then I apologise for that. I did not say it on purpose. I did not know that it was prohibited.”

Earlier, Jaiswar had also shared a voice note on social media in which he could be heard speaking to Bedi over the phone. During the conversation, he explained to the actor that the term he used is banned and inappropriate, and requested that he apologise publicly.

According to Jaiswar, Bedi agreed during the call that he would issue an apology, which the actor has now done through the video message circulating online.