Bollywood veteran Kabir Bedi went from theatre to films and then took over the world with his commendable performances in movies like ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’, ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’, James Bond film ‘Octopussy’ among others.
While the world is familiar with his career spanning more than three decades, a handful of people know about his personal life. Bedi has finally spilled the beans about his open marriage with his ex-wife Protima Gupta, an Odissi dancer, and mother of actor Pooja Bedi.
“Our open marriage may have seemed like a good idea at first. In the end, it only caused me greater anxiety. It had led to a lack of intimacy between us. I didn’t feel the love that I wanted, the caring and sharing I needed. Nor was I able to give it. The old magic had gone. I was feeling alone, empty and dejected,” Hindustan Times quoted an excerpt from his recent book.
He further divulged how he was attracted to film star Parveen Babi.
“Parveen Babi filled that void. She was a ravishingly beautiful actress with fair skin, long black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes. Until then, I’d always thought of her as ‘the girlfriend of Danny Denzongpa’. Parveen began her rapid rise to stardom during their four years together. Her living openly with Danny, wearing jeans and smoking in public, had given her a bohemian image in India. But morally, she was a conservative Gujarati girl. While the rest of the Juhu gang talked about the ‘free sex’ preaching of Guru Osho, she believed in sexual fidelity. It’s what I was looking for when I fell in love with her.”
Sharing how he finally told his then wife Protima that he’d fallen for Parveen, he penned, “There was no easy way to break the news (to Protima). ‘I’m going over to Parveen’s tonight,’ I said softly when she came in. ‘Parveen’s!’ she repeated in surprise. I could see her computing what must have happened. ‘But I’ve only just arrived. Can’t you stay tonight at least?’ I shook my head. ‘No, I have to be with her tonight and every night.'”
“At that moment, she realized that our relationship had changed forever. She let out a deep breath and looked at me. ‘Do you love her?’ I nodded, not without sadness. ‘Does she love you?’ she asked, her voice a notch higher. ‘Yes,’ I said gruffly, wanting to cry. I knew I was ending a relationship where we’d shared life-changing experiences together, happy and unhappy, moral and immoral, for six tumultuous years. But I didn’t want to show vulnerability. I had to be strong to end it.”
“I held her by the shoulders to embrace her goodbye. She clung to me and burst out crying. Then she sat down on the bed and sighed deeply before she spoke. ‘Please leave me alone now,’ she said in a firm voice as tears welled in her eyes. ‘Leave me alone. Please go!’ Our ‘open marriage’ was over,” he exclaimed.
Following this, Kabir and Protima got divorced in 1977. However, Parveen and he never got married. Parveen was found dead on 22 January 2005.
Even though Bedi started out with Bollywood, he soon spread his wings in Hollywood and became a star in Europe. Wishing him all the luck for his future.