Dhurandhar's FIRST Cast Member Was Not Ranveer Singh! Aditya Dhar Wanted THIS Veteran Actor To Join The Film

Veteran

actor Rakesh Bedi is enjoying a remarkable career resurgence thanks to the massive success of the Dhurandhar franchise. While Ranveer Singh may be the face of the blockbuster series, Bedi has now revealed that he was actually the first actor filmmaker Aditya Dhar envisioned for the project. In a recent interview, the actor shared that he was brought on board years before the script was even completed! So, how did Dhar decide years ago that Rakesh Bedi aka Jameel Jamali will be a huge part of Dhurandhar? Read on to find out.

Rakesh Bedi was the first actor to be cast in Dhurandhar

Rakesh Bedi’s performance as Jameel Jamali has emerged as one of the most talked-about aspects of the Dhurandhar franchise. The veteran actor’s character underwent a shocking transformation in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, also known as Dhurandhar 2, where audiences discovered that the seemingly ordinary Jameel Jamali was actually India’s secret agent operating inside Pakistan. The twist stunned viewers and played a major role in making the character a fan favourite. Reports even suggest that Bedi received a Rs 1 crore bonus from the makers following the franchise’s phenomenal success.Now, the actor has revealed another surprising detail about his association with the film. Speaking about working in Dhurandhar, Bedi shared that Aditya Dhar had considered him for the project long before the screenplay was finalised.

"I believe, and Aditya Dhar ne kaha bhi hai ki Dhurandhar mein cast hone vaala mai pehla aadmi tha," Bedi said.According to the veteran actor, Dhar first approached him nearly three to four years ago around the time the filmmaker was working on Uri: The Surgical Strike. "At that time, they didn't have a script. But they had an idea, and according to that idea, they had thought of me for a role in that film," he revealed. Bedi described Dhar’s confidence in him as one of the biggest compliments of his career.

Rakesh Bedi on Jameel Jamali's popularity

The actor also opened up about the overwhelming response to his character Jameel Jamali, saying audiences continue to watch and rewatch the film repeatedly. He said that no one will be able to forget Jameel Jamali and there are people who have even watched the film 8-10 times. Bedi credited much of the character’s popularity to the detailed writing and collaborative effort of the entire creative team. He also praised Aditya Dhar for creating a compelling cinematic world that connected strongly with audiences.Directed by Aditya Dhar and backed by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the Dhurandhar franchise has become one of the biggest success stories in recent years. Dhurandhar 2 stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role alongside Sara Arjun, Gaurav Gera, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal. The franchise also features Akshaye Khanna in a key role, especially in the first film.