The veteran actor has found renewed popularity with his performance in Dhurandhar franchise. The actor essayed the role of an Indian agent, Jameel Jamali, who becomes a politician in Pakistan after being sent to infiltrate the country’s political establishment. The reveal that he was actually an Indian agent was kept under wraps until the film’s climax, making it one of the story’s biggest surprises. Rakesh admits that he was aware of the character’s ultimate fate and the twist from the beginning.

Looking back, Rakesh said, “When I read the script two or three times, I realised that this was a very tense film, not just tense, but intense too. Then I felt that, as an actor, because I naturally gravitate towards comedy and my mind tends to lean towards humour, I could see certain moments where we could sprinkle in a bit of comic relief. So I told Aditya, ‘I can spot a few pockets where we could add some humour. Should I give it a try?’ He replied, ‘Rakesh ji, it’s difficult to say right now. Let’s see how things unfold as we go along and work on it.’ Initially, he was a little reluctant, but as we progressed, he started enjoying it too, and I began enjoying it as well.”

During the chat, Rakesh was asked where he gave his input for adding humour, following which he recited his dialogue, “Your b***ocks are very white”, which was said in reference to the ducks in a scene in Dhurandhar.

After this, Rakesh went on to address claims that the Dhurandhar script came from the Prime Minister’s office. The actor said, “Ab ye line koi likh nahi sakta. Jab ye film hit huyi toh kuch logo ne kaha Dhurandhar ki script jo hai woh PMO se likh kar aati hai. Maine kaha batao PMO me kaunsa aisa aadmi hai jo ye line likh sakta hai. Aisa soch bhi nahi sakta koi (No one could have written that line. When the film became a hit, some people claimed that the script of Dhurandhar came straight from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). I said, ‘Tell me, who in the PMO could possibly write a line like this?’ No one could even think of something like that).”

While the films were praised for their slick narrative, many complained that they seemed to glorify the BJP administration while downplaying the achievements of previous governments.

The films tell the story of Jaskirat Singh Rangi, alias Hamza Ali Mazari, sent to Lyari in Pakistan to bring down a terror unit. He infiltrates a Baloch gang, marries the daughter of a Lyari politician and integrates into the society there to do this. Both films are now streaming worldwide.