‘He Was Always in the Game’: Rakesh Bedi Says Akshaye Khanna Never Left Bollywood, Calls ‘Dhurandhar’ Success a Rare, Once-in-a-Lifetime Wave
Actor Rakesh Bedi has weighed in on the success of 'Dhurandhar', calling it a rare, once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. In a recent interview, he dismissed claims of Akshaye Khanna’s 'comeback', saying the actor never left the industry and has always been active, even if some films worked more than others.
Actor Rakesh Bedi, who played Jameel Jamali in the recently released film Dhurandhar, has described the movie’s box office run as a rare and unrepeatable success. The film, inspired by real-life traffic incidents, continues to draw audiences even a month after its release. ‘No Ill Intent’: ‘Dhurandhar’ Actor Rakesh Bedi Reacts to Backlash Over Viral Moment With 20-Year-Old Co-Star Sara Arjun at Event (Watch Video)
Akshaye Khanna Never Left Bollywood
In a recent interview, Bedi said the scale of appreciation received by the film and its cast is something actors experience only once in a lifetime. Following the film’s success, a section of the audience referred to Akshaye Khanna’s performance as a “comeback”. However, Bedi disagreed with that view, stating that Khanna never stepped away from the industry. “Akshaye was always in the game. He never left it. Uski aur humari films lagti rehti hain, koi kam chalti hai, koi zyada chalti hai, but it doesn't mean he was out of the industry,” Bedi told Hindustan Times. He added that the success or failure of individual projects should not define an actor’s presence in the industry.
Comparing Rare Box Office Waves
Bedi also compared Dhurandhar’s impact to other landmark films, noting that such success stories are difficult to replicate. Drawing a parallel with Baahubali, he said, “Ye once in a lifetime success hai. Jaise Baahubali thi. Bohot koshish ki, lekin Prabhas ke liye same dubara repeat nahi hua.” He further remarked that every actor and director hopes for such a defining wave in their career, but many never experience it. Rakesh Bedi Reveals His ‘Dhurandhar’ Character Draws from Multiple Pakistani Political Figures.
Rakesh Bedi on ‘Dhurandhar’ Success
Citing global cinema, Bedi said certain films go beyond conventional measures of success. “You cannot label this success. For example, you cannot categorise the success of the Hollywood film The Godfather,” he said. According to Bedi, Dhurandhar belongs to that rare category of films whose impact extends beyond box office numbers, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and the industry alike.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 08:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).