Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, who appears in Dhurandhar, has reacted to the criticism surrounding his video with co-star Sara Arjun. A clip from the trailer launch showed Bedi kissing the 20-year-old actress’s shoulder as she greeted him, which sparked backlash online and has now prompted a response from the actor.
Dhurandhar actor Rakesh Bedi has addressed the online criticism over a video featuring him and his onscreen daughter, actress Sara Arjun. The clip, filmed at the actioner’s trailer launch, showed Bedi kissing the 20-year-old actor’s shoulder while greeting her. Fans claimed she appeared visibly uncomfortable before moving from beside Bedi to stand in the middle with others. The moment quickly went viral, drawing backlash across social media. Now, Bedi has clarified his stance.
Rakesh Bedi BREAKS SILENCE On Backlash Over ‘Kissing’ Sara Arjun
He told Hindustan Times, “Sara is less than half my age and plays my daughter. Whenever we met during the shoot, she would greet me with a hug, just as a daughter would with her father. We share a nice rapport and camaraderie, which is also reflected on screen,” says an incensed Rakesh.
“It was no different that day, but people are not seeing the affection there. The affection of an elderly man towards a young girl. Dekhne wale ki aankh mein gadbad hai to kya kar sakte ho (What can you do when people perceive it wrongly)?” he added.
The Yess Boss actor also questioned why he would behave with any ill intent towards her on a public stage, especially when her parents were present. He said people tend to exaggerate such moments on social media and create controversies out of nothing. Clarifying that he was not trying to defend himself, he added that his long body of work and the connection it has built with audiences speaks for him. He said fans’ admiration matters far more to him than online criticism.