# Rakesh Bedi (राकेश बेदी)
**Rakesh Bedi** (राकेश बेदी) is an Indian actor, producer, and director who has worked in Hindi films, television, and theater since the late 1970s, known for comic roles such as Omi in *Chashme Buddoor* (1981), Raja in *Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi*, and Dilruba in *[Shrimaan Shrimati](https://www.edgepedia.org/shrimaan-shrimati-tv-series)* (1994), and more recently for playing Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali in *Dhurandhar* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/). He was born in 1954 in New Delhi[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true), though one film database gives 1956 as his birth year[3](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/rakesh-bedi.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954, New Delhi, India (one database says 1956)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) • [3](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/rakesh-bedi.html) |
| Training | Graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Film debut | *Ahsaas* (1979), offered by producer G. P. Sippy after seeing Bedi perform at his FTII convocation[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/) |
| Signature roles | Omi in *Chashme Buddoor* (1981); Raja in *Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi*; Dilruba in *Shrimaan Shrimati* (1994); Babulal in *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah* (2023–2026)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Recent fame | Jameel Jamali in *Dhurandhar* (2025) and *Dhurandhar: The Revenge* (2026)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) |
| Theatre | Joined IPTA on graduating; solo play *Massage* with 20–24 characters; about 150 shows of *Andhe Choohe*[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/) • [4](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/actor-rakesh-bedi-struggle-story-he-left-engineering-entrance-exam-and-joined-ftii-know-about-first-film/amp_articleshow/103546816.cms) • [5](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20260420-qa-with-rakesh-bedi-beyond-the-comic-mask-2893821-2026-04-10) |
| Output | More than 150 Hindi films, plus extensive television work[6](https://entertainindia.com/celebrities/rakesh-bedi) |
## Training and first film
Bedi acted in school dramas and won prizes for them, and he cites [Charlie Chaplin](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-chaplin), whose films he watched on a friend's projector, as an early inspiration[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rakesh-bedi-i-miss-working-with-govinda-he-has-a-great-sense-of-timing-exclusive/articleshow/93467346.cms). He abandoned plans for an engineering entrance exam and instead studied acting at the [Film and Television Institute of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/film-and-television-institute-of-india) in Pune[4](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/actor-rakesh-bedi-struggle-story-he-left-engineering-entrance-exam-and-joined-ftii-know-about-first-film/amp_articleshow/103546816.cms). Before FTII he was part of a Delhi theater group[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/).
His first signed film, *Ahsaas* (1979), came, in his words, "almost like a campus placement": he was compere at his FTII convocation, where G. P. Sippy, the producer of *Sholay*, was chief guest, and Sippy cast him after watching him perform in a production called *Love in Paris War In Kutch*[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/). In 1972 he had founded his own Delhi theater group, Ankur Arts[4](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/actor-rakesh-bedi-struggle-story-he-left-engineering-entrance-exam-and-joined-ftii-know-about-first-film/amp_articleshow/103546816.cms).
## Screen career
Typecasting in comedy shaped his screen work. Bedi explains that when he entered the industry, formula family dramas required a tall hero, a beautiful heroine, and a villain of a certain look, and the comedian's slot was the one open to him; he says he "had no choice" but took it because he wanted work[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/). He later argued the typecasting helped him last: "If I wasn't typecast, I wouldn't have survived for so many years"[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rakesh-bedi-if-i-wasnt-typecast-i-wouldnt-have-survived-for-so-many-years-2830685-2025-12-05).
His best-known early roles are Omi in Sai Paranjpye's *Chashme Buddoor* (1981), Raja, Swaroop Sampath's good-natured younger brother, in the sitcom *Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi*, and Dilruba in *Shrimaan Shrimati* (1994)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/) • [8](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rakesh-bedi-if-i-wasnt-typecast-i-wouldnt-have-survived-for-so-many-years-2830685-2025-12-05). Television credits also include *Yes Boss*, *Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain*, and *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah*, in which he played Babulal in 110 episodes from 2023 to 2026[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rakesh-bedi-if-i-wasnt-typecast-i-wouldnt-have-survived-for-so-many-years-2830685-2025-12-05) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true). In an interview he said he has tried to keep television comedy clean, allowing no vulgarity even in *Shrimaan Shrimati*, whose premise had his character pining for a neighbor[9](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/story/rakesh-bedi-interview-talks-about-his-role-in-taarak-mehta-corona-lockdown-tmove-1116591-2020-08-21).
Film work has continued steadily: he played the Informer in *Uri: The Surgical Strike* (2019), and his credits include *Gadar 2* (2023), *Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya* (2024), and *Zara Hatke Zara Bachke* (2023)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true) • [10](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/rakesh-bedi/).
## Theatre
Bedi describes himself as a theater artist first. The day he graduated from FTII he joined IPTA, the [Indian People's Theatre Association](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-peoples-theatre-association), which he calls the oldest theater group in India, and until the two Covid years there was not a single month in which he did not perform on stage[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/).
His solo play *Massage*, in which he alone plays the entire cast, is his signature stage piece: the Maharashtra Times profile credits him with 24 characters in the play[4](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/actor-rakesh-bedi-struggle-story-he-left-engineering-entrance-exam-and-joined-ftii-know-about-first-film/amp_articleshow/103546816.cms), while a 2026 report of his performance at the Bharatendu Natya Academy golden jubilee in Lucknow counts 20[11](https://www.amarujala.com/lucknow/stage-veteran-rakesh-bedi-portrays-20-characters-lucknow-news-c-13-1-lko1028-1684753-2026-04-10). In *Andhe Choohe*, a Hindi adaptation of [Agatha Christie](https://www.edgepedia.org/agatha-christie)'s *The Mousetrap*, he played the murderer in about 150 shows[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20260420-qa-with-rakesh-bedi-beyond-the-comic-mask-2893821-2026-04-10). Other stage work includes *Wrong Number* (2018) and *Love Online: The Bollywood Café*[12](https://sundayguardianlive.com/culture/good-comedy-always-comes-good-writing) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/).
## Dhurandhar and renewed recognition
Director Aditya Dhar, who had worked with Bedi on *Uri*, cast him as Jameel Jamali, a Pakistani politician, in the spy thriller *Dhurandhar* (2025), and he reprised the role in *Dhurandhar: The Revenge* (2026)[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20260420-qa-with-rakesh-bedi-beyond-the-comic-mask-2893821-2026-04-10) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true). The role brought him a wave of attention from younger audiences and commentary that recognition had been long overdue for an actor familiar across generations[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rakesh-bedi-if-i-wasnt-typecast-i-wouldnt-have-survived-for-so-many-years-2830685-2025-12-05). Bedi himself said he believes in "the right season for everything" and felt no regret about the delay[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20260420-qa-with-rakesh-bedi-beyond-the-comic-mask-2893821-2026-04-10). Following the film's success, the makers of *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah* brought him back to the show[13](https://www.aajtak.in/topic/rakesh-bedi).
## Personal life and other matters
Bedi married Aradhana Bedi in 1985; she is the CEO of the film production company Cinema Vision India, and the couple have a daughter, Ridhima[14](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/news-from-bollywood/gadar-actor-rakesh-bedi-biography-left-engineering-entrance-exam-join-ftii-got-first-movie-from-sholay-producer-jp-sippi/articleshow/103538304.cms) • [15](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0066075/bio/). He stands 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall[15](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0066075/bio/). In September 2026 he filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against unauthorized use of his name, image, and voice; the case was listed before the court's intellectual property division[16](https://www.livehindustan.com/national/story-actor-rakesh-bedi-seeks-legal-protection-against-unauthorized-use-of-name-and-identity-201790164622144.html). He has also been writing an autobiography, which he plans to call *Funny Side Up*[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/).
## References
1. [Rakesh Bedi, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066075/?showAllCredits=true)
2. [Shweta Sharma, "'I have always been a theatre artiste': Rakesh Bedi", The Indian Express, 29 August 2023](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/rakesh-bedi-theatre-films-professional-journey-comedy-typecast-8905731/lite/)
3. [राकेश बेदी profile, Filmibeat Hindi](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/rakesh-bedi.html)
4. ["Rakesh Bedi Career Struggle Story", Maharashtra Times, 10 September 2023](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/actor-rakesh-bedi-struggle-story-he-left-engineering-entrance-exam-and-joined-ftii-know-about-first-film/amp_articleshow/103546816.cms)
5. ["Q+A with Rakesh Bedi | Beyond the comic mask", India Today, 20 April 2026](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20260420-qa-with-rakesh-bedi-beyond-the-comic-mask-2893821-2026-04-10)
6. [Rakesh Bedi, EntertainIndia](https://entertainindia.com/celebrities/rakesh-bedi)
7. ["Rakesh Bedi: I miss working with Govinda", The Times of India, 2022](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rakesh-bedi-i-miss-working-with-govinda-he-has-a-great-sense-of-timing-exclusive/articleshow/93467346.cms)
8. ["Rakesh Bedi: If I wasn't typecast, I wouldn't have survived for so many years", India Today, 5 December 2025](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rakesh-bedi-if-i-wasnt-typecast-i-wouldnt-have-survived-for-so-many-years-2830685-2025-12-05)
9. ["तारक मेहता का उल्टा चश्मा में कैसा होगा राकेश बेदी का किरदार?", AajTak, 21 August 2020](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/story/rakesh-bedi-interview-talks-about-his-role-in-taarak-mehta-corona-lockdown-tmove-1116591-2020-08-21)
10. [Rakesh Bedi filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/rakesh-bedi/)
11. ["मंच के धुरंधर राकेश बेदी ने जीये 20 किरदार", Amar Ujala, 10 April 2026](https://www.amarujala.com/lucknow/stage-veteran-rakesh-bedi-portrays-20-characters-lucknow-news-c-13-1-lko1028-1684753-2026-04-10)
12. ["'Good comedy always comes from good writing'", The Sunday Guardian Live, 19 May 2018](https://sundayguardianlive.com/culture/good-comedy-always-comes-good-writing)
13. [राकेश बेदी news page, AajTak](https://www.aajtak.in/topic/rakesh-bedi)
14. ["Gadar actor Rakesh Bedi biography", Navbharat Times, 2023](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/news-from-bollywood/gadar-actor-rakesh-bedi-biography-left-engineering-entrance-exam-join-ftii-got-first-movie-from-sholay-producer-jp-sippi/articleshow/103538304.cms)
15. [Rakesh Bedi biography, IMDb (Hindi)](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0066075/bio/)
16. ["व्यक्तित्व अधिकारों की सुरक्षा के लिए हाईकोर्ट पहुंचे अभिनेता राकेश बेदी", Live Hindustan, 23 September 2026](https://www.livehindustan.com/national/story-actor-rakesh-bedi-seeks-legal-protection-against-unauthorized-use-of-name-and-identity-201790164622144.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1970s–1980s › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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