Can you imagine Rakesh Bedi playing a character who calmly picks up the phone and orders a hit job? Probably not. After all, for almost four decades, the actor, 71, displayed his command over comedy. But in Dhurandhar, filmmaker Aditya Dhar has turned one of Bollywood’s most adored comedians into a villain.

Bedi, who plays the Pakistani politician Jameel in the Ranveer Singh-led spy actioner, admits he didn’t see the role coming. “There is a uniqueness to my character. He is the kind of man who knows how to be in the [good books] of powerful people. His mindset was important to crack. He is menacing, but also has a wicked humour. When I heard the narration, I realised how intense it is. My character’s violence is hidden. He can pull strings, has an eerie smile and a knife in his pocket, and kills without remorse.”