Dhurandhar actor Rakesh Bedi says film is inspired by Major Mohit Sharma amid controversy

Rakesh Bedi in Dhurandhar

Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar has finally hit the screens amid a series of controversies. The most talked-about among them was Major Mohit Sharma's parents claiming that the film took inspiration from their son, despite the director Aditya Dhar's denial. The court and CBFC also ruled out the possibility of the film taking inspiration. Amid this, now actor Rakesh Bedi made a fresh statement about its inspiration.

Rakesh Bedi says Dhurandhar is inspired by Major Mohit Sharma

Speaking to ITV Blink, Rakesh Bedi stated that while the movie is not based on the life of Major Mohit Sharma, it does take inspiration from his journey. Bedi said, "Every film has a mother film. Sholay's mother film was Seven Samurai… or Five Man Army. Kahin na kahin se toh koi bhi film inspire hoti hai. Har cheez kahin na kahin se inspire hoti hai, lekin uska matlab yeh nahi ki uske upar bani hai yeh film. (Every film is inspired by something or the else. Everything is inspired, but that does not mean it is based on it)"

He further said, "I salute Mohit Sharma for what he did, but definitely… it may be inspired from there, but it's not based on it. Lekin main iss baare mein bolne wala kaun hoon - meri authority nahi hai (But I am no one to speak about it, I don't have the authority). But I know this much: every story is inspired by somewhere. There's a good saying that nothing is ‘new under the sun'. Nothing is completely new."

Talking about his character in the film, Bedi said it is loosely inspired by a real Pakistani politician. He shared, "In fact, the character I play adjusts himself within Pakistan. I've seen him in their Senate, their Parliament, when Nawaz Sharif or Bhutto is giving a speech, this man is sitting behind them. I studied his mannerisms on YouTube quite minutely. Even my appearance resembles his a bit. But that doesn't mean the character is based on him; it may simply be inspired by him."

Dhurandhar controversy

For the unversed, the parents of the late Major Mohit Sharma, an Ashoka Chakra and Sena Medal awardee, had moved the Delhi High Court seeking an immediate stay on the release of the film. In their petition, the parents alleged that Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar was based on the life, undercover missions, and his martyrdom, without permission from the family or the Indian Army.

The family sought protection for their son's legacy. However, the film's director clarified that the spy thriller is fictional and not based on the Major's life. The CBFC also cleared the film, saying it wasn't inspired by Sharma's life.