Kabir Bedi

Kabir Bedi (born 16 January 1946) is an Indian film actor. His career has spanned three continents covering India, the United States and especially Italy among other European countries in three media: film, television and theatre.[1] He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story and the villainous Sanjay Verma in the 1980s blockbuster Khoon Bhari Maang. He is best known in Italy and Europe for playing the pirate Sandokan in the popular Italian TV mini series and for his role as the villainous Gobinda in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Kabir Bedi is based in India and lives in Mumbai.[2]

Kabir Bedi
Born (1946-01-16) 16 January 1946
Lahore, Punjab, British India
Occupation
  • Actor
  • Television presenter
Years active1971–present
Spouse(s)
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1969; div. 1974)​
  • Susan Humphreys
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1992; div. 2005)​
  • Parveen Dosanjh
    ​
    (m. 2016)​
Children3, including Pooja
Parent(s)

Biography

Early life

Bedi was one of three children born into a Sikh family that had devoted itself to India's fight for independence from British colonial rule. His father, Baba Pyare Lal Singh Bedi, a Punjabi Sikh, was an author and philosopher. His mother, Freda Bedi was a British woman born in Derby, England, who became famous as the first Western woman to take ordination in Tibetan Buddhism.[3] Kabir Bedi did his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, Uttarakhand and graduation from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

Career

Kabir Bedi began his career in Indian theatre and then moved on to Hindi films. Bedi remains one of the first international actors from India who started out in Hindi films, worked in Hollywood films and became a star in Europe.

Stage acting

As a stage actor, Kabir has performed Shakespeare's Othello as well as portrayed a historical Indian king, Tughlaq; and a self-destructive alcoholic in The Vultures. In London he also starred in The Far Pavilions, the West End musical adaptation of M. M. Kaye's novel, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In 2011 Kabir played Emperor Shah Jahan, in 'Taj', a play written by John Murrell, a Canadian playwright for the Luminato Festival in Toronto. In 2013, this play was recommissioned and went on an 8-week multi-city tour of Canada.[4]

Personal life

Bedi married four times and had three children, Pooja, Siddharth (deceased) and Adam. He was married to Protima Bedi, an Odissi dancer. Their daughter Pooja Bedi is a magazine/newspaper columnist and former actress. Their son, Siddharth, who went to Carnegie Mellon University, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed suicide in 1997 at the age of 26.[5]

As his marriage with Protima began to break down he famously started a relationship with Parveen Babi. They never married. He later married British-born fashion designer Susan Humphreys. Their son, Adam Bedi, is an international model[6] who made his Hindi Film debut with the thriller, Hello? Kaun Hai!.[7] This marriage ended in divorce.

In the early 1990s, Bedi married TV and radio presenter Nikki Bedi. They had no children and divorced in 2005. After that, Bedi has been in a relationship with British-born Parveen Dusanj,[8][9][10] whom he married a day before his 70th birthday.[11]

Bedi supports the anti-Government struggle in Myanmar, and is an official ambassador of the Burma Campaign UK.[12] He is also the Brand Ambassador for Rotary International South Asia for their Teach Programme and the Total Literacy Mission in India and South Asia.

Film career

In the James Bond film Octopussy, he played the villain's aide Gobinda.

Kabir has acted in over 60 Indian films. In the historical epic Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, Kabir starred as the Emperor Shah Jahan. Other starring Hindi film roles include Raj Khosla's Kacche Dhaage, Rakesh Roshan's Khoon Bhari Maang and Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na.

Kabir Bedi shot a movie with Hrithik Roshan (Kites), Govinda (Showman), and Akshay Kumar (Blue).[13] He also starred in Deepa Mehta's film, Kamagata Maru with Amitabh Bachchan and John Abraham. He acted in the Tamil film 'Aravaan', directed by Vasanthabalan.

Kabir played roles in Columbia Pictures' The Beast of War, a film on the Russian war in Afghanistan, directed by Kevin Reynolds, as well as the acclaimed Italian film Andata Ritorno, by Marco Ponti, winner of the David di Donatello Award. In 2017, he acted in a Telugu historical movie Gautamiputra Satakarni, as Nahapana, an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas.

Television career

Kabir has appeared on American television, in Hallmark's African epic Forbidden Territory, and Ken Follett's On Wings of Eagles and also Red Eagle. He played Friar Sands in The Lost Empire, for NBC. Kabir also acted in Dynasty, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Hunter, Knight Rider and Highlander: The Series.

In Europe, his greatest success was Sandokan, the saga of a romantic Southeast Asian pirate during British colonial times; an Italian-German-French TV series which broke viewership records across Europe. Kabir recently starred in a prime-time Italian television series, Un Medico in Famiglia, on RAI TV.

For over a year, Kabir starred in The Bold and the Beautiful, the second most-watched television show in the world, seen by over a billion people in 149 countries.

He had his own cinematic talk show on Indian TV, "Director's Cut", a 13-part special series interviewing the country's leading directors. His success on television continued in 2013 with award-winning prime-time shows "Guns and Glory: The Indian Soldier” & “Vandemataram”, for India's news channels – Headlines Today & Aaj Tak.[14]

Kabir Bedi after receiving his knighthood

In the Indian Biblical television series 'Bible Ki Kahaniya', Bedi played both the young and aged Abraham.

Radio career

In 2007 he starred in "Chat", a radio show aired by RAI Radio2, in the role of Sandokan. In 2012, he did a series of Radio One programmes titled, 'Women of Gold' and 'Men of Steel' in honour of industry champions in India. In 2017 he did another series in English for Radio One, 'Ten on Ten' celebrating top ten innovations out of India. He also did the year-end special series, 'Best of 2017'.

Writing

Kabir Bedi is a regular contributor to Indian publications including the Times of India and Tehelka on political and social issues affecting the country. He is also seen debating such topics on Indian national television.[15]

Charity

In February 2017, Bedi was announced as the new 'brand ambassador' for international development organisation, Sightsavers, saying on his appointment, "Today there is immense awareness and attempt towards eye health and care in India and Sightsavers have shown way to people at large in the country with their achievements in the area of eye care."[16]

Awards and achievements

Since 1982 Kabir has been a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (who are responsible for presenting the Oscar awards) and he is a voting member of the Screen Actors Guild.

He has won numerous film, advertising and popularity awards across Europe and India.[17]

By decree of the President of the Italian Republic of 2 June 2010, Kabir Bedi was officially knighted. He received the highest ranking civilian honour of the Italian Republic and was bestowed the title of "Cavaliere" (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.[18] He has recently received Honorary Degree from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

Filmography

Films
YearFilm TitleCharacter
1971 HulchalMahesh Jetley
Seema
1972 Rakhi Aur HathkadiSuraj
SazaaBrijmohan
Anokha Daan
1973 Kuchhe DhaagePandit Tulsiram / Daku Roopa
YauwanJhumru
1974 Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain
Maa Bahen Aur Biwi
Ishq Ishq IshqDiwana/Ravikant Vyas
1975 AnariVikram
DaakuDaku Raju
1976 NaginUday
Harfan MaulaFaulad Singh
BulletDurga Prasad
The Black CorsairThe Black Corsair (Italy)
1977 Daku Aur MahatmaSangram Singh
VishwasghaatUday
La tigre è ancora viva: Sandokan alla riscossa!Sandokan
1978 The Thief of BaghdadPrince Taj
1979 AshantiMalik
Aakhri KasamKishan / Badal
YuvraajSamrat Surya Dev Singh
1981 The Archer: Fugitive from the EmpireGar
1982 40 Days of Musa DaghGabriel Bagradian
Satan's MistressThe Spirit
1983 OctopussyGovinda
1988 EscuadrónKoura
Khoon Bhari MaangSanjay Verma
Mera ShikarRavi
The Beast (1988 film)Akbar
1990 Police PublicSenior Inspector Shah Nawaz Khan
Haar Jeet
Shera ShamsheraShankar
1991 KurbaanInspector Suraj Singh
Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi
VishkanyaForest Officer Vikram Singh
1992 Dil Aashna HaiRai Bahadur Digvijay Singh
YalgaarRaj Pratap Singhal
Beyond JusticeMoulet
Lambu DadaLambu Dada
1993 KshatriyaThakur Ganga Singh (Police Officer)
YugandharColonel Kanir
1994 SalaamiCaptain Rehmat Khan
Lie Down with LionsKabir
The Maharaja's DaughterChandragupta
1995 OP CentreAbdul Fazawi
KismatRajan
Aatank Hi AatankPolice Inspector
1996 The Return of SandokanSandokan
1998 Mashamal – Ritorno al DesertoTahar Id Bran
1999 KohramBrigadier Bedi
2001 The Lost EmpireFriar Sand
2002 KrantiMahendra Pratap Rana
Maine Dil Tujhko DiyaMr. Verma (Ayesha's Father)
2003 TalaashChhote Pathan
The Hero: Love Story of a SpyMr. Zakaria
2004 FatherKarl (Father & Violinist)
RudrakshPandit Ved Bhushan
Asambhav
KismatRaj Maliya
RoundtripTolstoj (Italian film)
Main Hoon NaGeneral Amarjeet Bakshi
2005 BewafaaAnjali's Father
Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love StoryEmperor Shah Jahan
2006 Do Raha
JaanlevaRakesh Khullar
A All About Her
Take 3 GirlsMo
2008 Showman
2009 BlueCaptain Jagat Malhotra
2010 KitesBob Grover
2011 Yaara O Dildaara
2012 AravaanTamil film
ChakravyuhMahanta, an industrialist and negotiator for the government
2015 DilwaleDev Malik
AnarkaliJaffer Imam
2016 Teraa SurroorA A Khan
Mohenjo DaroMaham
2017 Gautamiputra SatakarniNahapana
Edict of Expulsion 1492Sultan Bayezid
Paisa VasoolRAW Chief
2018 Jaane Kyun De YaaronShera
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3Maharaja Hari Singh

Television
TV TitleRelease YearStatusCharacter
Sandokan1976European TV Mini seriesSandokan
La tigre è ancora viva: Sandokan alla riscossa!1977European TV Mini seriesSandokan
Dynasty1982TV SeriesFarouk Ahmed
General Hospital1983TV SeriesRama
Knight RiderNovember 1985TV SeriesVascone
Dynasty1986TV SeriesFarouk Ahmed
On Wings of Eagles1986TV SeriesMohammed
The Days and Nights of Molly DodMay 1987TV SeriesBill
Misteri della Giungla Nera, I – a.k.a. The Mysteries of the Dark Jungle1991TV Mini SeriesKammamuri
Il Principe del Deserto – a.k.a. Desert Law1991TV SeriesMoulet Beni-Zair
The Bold and the BeautifulSeptember 1994TV SeriesPrince Omar
Maharaja's Daughter1994TV SeriesChandragupta
Highlander: The Series20 November 1995TV SeriesKamir
Bible Ki Kahaniya 1995TV SeriesAbraham, the Patriarch
Il Ritorno di Sandokan6 October 1996TV Mini SeriesSandokan
Noi siamo angeli – a.k.a. We are Angels16 February 1997TV Mini SeriesGen. Napoleon Durate
Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone7 December 1997TV SeriesKhamis Bin Abdullah
Team Knight Rider9 February 1998TV SeriesAristotle Drago
Murder, She WroteFebruary 1988TV SeriesVikram Singh
Magnum, P.I.10 February 1988TV SeriesMalcolm
L'isola dei famosi2004Italian Reality ShowHimself
The Bold and the Beautiful4 May 2005TV SeriesPrince Omar
VivereMay 2006Italian TV SeriesEmir Ibrahim
Director's Cut2007TV Special SeriesHimself
Un medico in famiglia 52007Italian TV SeriesKabir
Ganga Kii Dheej2010–2011Hindi TV SeriesDada Bhai
Buddha2013Hindi TV SeriesAsita Muni (Cameo)
VandeMataram2013TV Special News SeriesHimself
Guns & Glory: The Indian Soldier2013TV Special News SeriesHimself
Jai Ho2014TV Special News SeriesHimself
Thinkistan2019Web SeriesDanish Azeem

Radio
Radio TitleRelease YearStatusCharacter
Ch@t (Italian fiction)2007RAI Radio2Sandokan
'Women of Gold'2012RadioOneHimself
'Men of Steel'2012Radio OneHimself
'Ten on Ten' – 'Ten Biggest Impacts This Last Decade'2017Radio OneHimself
'Best of 2017'2017Radio OneHimself

Dubbing roles

Live action films
Film titleActorCharacterDub LanguageOriginal LanguageOriginal Year ReleaseDub Year ReleaseNotes
Prince of Persia: The Sands of TimeBen KingsleyNizamHindiEnglish20102010Performed alongside Yudhvir Dahiya who voiced Jake Gyllenhaal as Dastan and Joy Sengupta who voiced Toby Kebbell as Prince Garsiv in Hindi.
Fantastic FourReg E. CatheyDr. Franklin StormHindiEnglish20152015Performed alongside Karan Trivedi who voiced Miles Teller as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic in Hindi.

Voice overs in ads and commercials
ProjectTypeLanguageYear
The Keeper of the Flame – The History of TATADocumentaryEnglish2007
An Introduction to CHILDLINE IndiaPublic Awareness Campaign – NarratorEnglish2008
Aircel Save the Tiger CampaignPublic Awareness Campaign – NarratorEnglish2009
Ford Motors launch Figo, IndiaLive EventsEnglish2010
Somnath Temple, GujaratSound & Light ShowEnglish2010
Red Fort, New DelhiSound & Light ShowEnglish2011
Virasat-e-Khalsa – Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex, PunjabNarratorEnglish2011
Apollo TyresAdvertisementEnglish2013
Jindal PantherAdvertisementEnglish2014
Banda Singh Bahadur – War Memorial, PunjabSound & Light ShowEnglish2014
TAJ Hotels, Resorts & PalacesAdvertisementEnglish2014
DHLAdvertisementHindi2015
YamahaAdvertisementHindi2015
Mount of ExcellenceDocumentary narratorEnglish2015
ParleAdvertisementHindi & English2016
TanishqAdvertisementEnglish2016
Konark Sun Temple, OdishaSound & Light ShowEnglish2017

Voting memberships
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Screen Actors Guild
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The British Actors' Equity Association

References
  1. "Internationally acclaimed Indian actor". IMDb. 1971–2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. "Residence of Kabir bedi". Archived from the original on 21 December 2015.
  3. Mackenzie, Vicki (2017). The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi (1st ed.). Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications. p. xii. ISBN 9781611804256.
  4. "Kabir Bedi & Lisa Ray Discuss 'TAJ'". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  5. Kabir Bedi Misses Late Son on Father's Day Archived 18 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Adam Bedi baptised
  8. "Let's keep it a surprise: Parveen Dusanj". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
  9. "When Dad likes them young!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  10. Ahmed, Afsana; Sharma, Smrity (6 May 2007). "Another Parveen is Kabir Bedi's love". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  11. "Kabir Bedi ties knot with Parveen Dusanj on 70th birthday". CNN-IBN. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  12. "Kabir Bedi's voice for Burma's Mandela". Daily News & Analysis. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008.
  13. Collection of articles on Kabir Bedi Archived 29 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "The NT Awards – 2014 Winners". Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  15. Bedi, Kabir. "Kabir Bedi Blog".
  16. "Kabir Bedi is Sightsavers' brand ambassador". Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  17. "Kabir Bedi: Awards page". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  18. "Knight in shining armour". The Times of India. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
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