Happy birthday Kabir Bedi: Born on 16 January, 1946, Kabir Bedi is an Indian film actor who spanned his career into three continents covering India, the United States and especially Italy among other European countries in three media: film, television and theatre
This prolific actor has to his credit a body of work that spans across continents and languages and mediums.
Kabir Bedi initially started his acting career with theatre and later went on to act in mainstream Hindi movies.
He very gracefully essayed the role of the villain’s aide in the James Bond flick Octopussy.
His noteworthy works include Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, Kacche Dhaage, Khoon Bhari Maang and Farah Khan’s Main Hoon Na.
For over a year, Kabir starred in The Bold and the Beautiful, the second most-watched television show in the world making him a star in the West and Europe.
He was married to the famous Odissi dancer Protima Bedi.
As Kabir bedi turns 75, here’s all that you need to know about his life-
- His mother, Freda Bedi was born in Derby, England and was the first Western woman to take ordination in Tibetian Buddhism.
- He was the first Indian actor to make it to the Hollywood industry with John Glen’s 1983 James Bond film Octopussy along with then Bond actor Roger Moore.
- Bedi played the role of pirate Sandokan in an Italian TV series with the same title in 1976. He can speak fluently in Italian.
- He also featured on popular American TV show The Bold and the Beautiful for more than a year.
- It was in 2010 that Kabir Bedi was officially knighted by the President of the Italian Republic. He received the highest ranking civilian honour of Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
- He was also in a relationship with Parveen Babi, but they never tied the knot.
- Kabir Bedi has married four times and has three children — actress Pooja Bedi and Late Siddharth Bedi from his first with Protima Bedi (1969-1973) and international model Adam Bedi from second wife Susan Humphreys.
- After his divorce with Susan, he was married to Radio Presenter Nikki Bedi from 1992 – 2005.
- He was later linked with British-born Parveen Dusanj.
- Daughter Pooja Bedi took on Twitter to express her distress when Kabir married Parveen a day before his 70th birthday.
Born to freedom fighter parents, Kabir Bedi didn’t grow up with political or financial aspirations.
He just wanted to do ‘something creative’, which landed him in the All India Radio, for whom he snagged an interview with The Beatles.
But when they failed to celebrate him or his work, he packed his bags and landed in Mumbai with dreams in his eyes and only a little money to get by.
That was all he needed to woo not just Bollywood but also the Italians and eventually, even Hollywood.
We wish him luck, love and happiness!
