Ranjeet says Women’s Short Clothes ended his Career

Ranjeet spoke about how he gained the “rapist” image in Bollywood in the 1970s.

The veteran actor has also said that despite the image given to him, he made sure that all his female co-stars felt comfortable around him.

The Reshma Aur Shera star also shared that he would often join films without much insight into the story.

He said: “Back in those days, no one listened to the story before signing a film; even the main heroes were told only a line.

“Actors like me assumed that if a filmmaker was coming to them, it must be for a role that he is fit for.

“I have never interfered with anyone’s scripts and I didn’t feel the need to.”

Ranjeet Bedi, popularly known simply as Ranjeet, has starred in over 200 Hindi films, as well as television serial Aisa Des Hai Mera and Punjabi films.

The actor was often cast as the villain during his time in Bollywood.

Ranjeet continued: “I didn’t have any problem playing a villain.

“Of course, there were social repercussions, initially.

“My family was livid but eventually, they realised it was my job.

“I never planned my career; just moulded myself into whatever came my way.”

Ranjeet added that despite his ‘rapist’ role in many films, he made sure that his female co-stars felt comfortable in his company.

“I went out of my way to make my heroines comfortable, so much so, that after a while even when I was not a part of the film, but there was a rape scene, they would tell the filmmaker to call me.

“They started calling me the rape specialist.

“Back in the day – it wasn’t vulgar, we had a set format – hero, heroine, comedian, villain, sister, mother.

“It was not like now; there were no lovemaking scenes. Why don’t they make a blue film only then?”

“I always joke that changes in fashion killed my career; women started wearing such short clothes, there was nothing left to pull.”

During a recent appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, Ranjeet revealed how his family threw him out after watching one of his scenes from Sharmeelee.

Ranjeet said: “I was thrown out of my house when Sharmeelee released. Because I pulled Rakhee’s hair and tried to tear her clothes.”

Ranjeet revealed his parents said: “What kind of work is this?

“You should take up roles like army major, officer, air force officer or doctor.

“You have humiliated your father. How will he face anyone back home in Amritsar?”

As well as being an actor, Ranjeet has also directed and produced many films including the drama Ghazab Tamasha.

Ranjeet was last seen in Housefull 4 alongside Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon and Bobby Deol.