Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi recently addressed the backlash he faced after a video from the trailer launch of Dhurandhar went viral in November 2025. The clip showed him greeting co-star Sara Arjun with a kiss on the shoulder, sparking criticism online, with some calling the gesture “creepy” and inappropriate.



In a new interview with Red FM, the 71-year-old actor dismissed the outrage, maintaining that his actions were purely paternal. “There was a small incident. The girl who plays my daughter in Dhurandhar, Sara Arjun. While shooting, every time she came, I would hug her and kiss her on the forehead — like a daughter,” he said. Earlier, he had pointed out that Sara’s parents were present at the event, questioning the way the moment was interpreted.



Explaining his intent, Bedi added that it was a senior actor’s responsibility to make younger co-stars feel at ease. “I would just say, ‘Come on, don’t worry, we’ll do a great scene together.’ But at the trailer launch, when I greeted her the same way, people started writing all kinds of things. I was like, ‘I’ve always treated her like this.’”



“Thankfully, some people also defended me. But honestly, people just need a reason to talk. Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna,” he said.