राकेश बेदी को जान से मारने की धमकियां मिली थीं: ‘धुरंधर’ से बदली इमेज, बोले- ऐसा मौका पहले नहीं मिला, थिएटर ने मुझे रिलिवेंट रखा

Left the exam midway and went for drama rehearsal

I grew up in Karol Bagh, Delhi. My father wanted me to become an engineer, so I prepared for IIT. But on the day of the entrance test, as soon as I saw the paper, I felt that this is not my field. I left the exam midway and went for drama rehearsal.

I believe that don’t step into the street where you don’t want to go. Don’t waste time in something that doesn’t suit you. For example, if you want to buy a saree worth Rs 15-20 thousand for your wife, then do not look at the one worth Rs 21 thousand. Get the best in the same range.

Even after studying for three-four months, I could get only 7 correct answers out of 39 questions. So I understood that engineering is not my field, so I chose the path of acting.

I have been doing theater continuously for 45-47 years.

I proudly say that I am one of those few actors who did theater continuously for 45-47 years. Despite films and serials, I did not leave theatre, because it keeps you relevant and connected to today’s times. It is only through theater that you are able to properly assess your energy, voice, reflexes and talent. How will actors remain sharp without it?

I have a play called ‘Massage’. In that, I have a solo performance of 2 hours, in which I play 24 characters. This drama has been running continuously for the last 23 years. Apart from the lockdown period, there has not been a single month when I have not worked on the stage.

Rakesh Bedi plays 24 different characters in the play ‘Massage’.

Old lessons started seeming useless in Pune Film Institute

When I was doing theater in Delhi, I felt that there would be two losses if I went into the direct film industry. First, I will not form any circle. Second, I will not be able to learn anything new. So went to Pune Film Institute (FTII). When the training took place there, the old learning seemed useless, I had to learn everything afresh. Made friends there, who walk together in the industry.

Sholay producer gave first chance

My acting started with the 1979 film ‘Ehsaas’. This film was produced by ‘Sholay’ producer GP Sippy. Actually, this film was like a campus placement for me. During the Pune FTII Convocation, JP Sippy had come as the chief guest at that event.

At the event, I played an important role in a theater production called ‘Love in Paris War in Kutch’. After seeing my performance, Sippy sahab told me that he was making a film and I was one of his actors. However, before ‘Ehsaas’, ‘Hamare Tumhare’ was released, in which I got a chance to work with Sanjeev Kumar.

Rakesh Bedi played the role of Omi Sharma in the film ‘Chashme Baddoor’. Made under the direction of Sai Paranjape, this is considered a cult film.

Got a chance in ‘Chashme Baddoor’ because of FTII

My classmate was DOP Surendra Saini, he passed out in the same year. I worked in the films shot by FTII. Because of him, I got a chance to work in Sai Paranjape’s film ‘Chashme Baddoor’. It was he who suggested my name to Sai Paranjape. When I read my role, I went crazy. Felt like a good script.

At that time I did not know that it would be discussed even after 40 years. But it was known that this would be a clean, fun, hilarious film. This is one of the timeless films.

‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ was released on 5 June 1981. It was one of the highest grossing films of that era, which did a business of more than Rs 10 crore.

Had received death threats after the release of ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’

The biggest success of my life was the film ‘Chashme Baddoor’. After this ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ got huge success. Rati Agnihotri and Kamal Haasan were in lead roles in this film. I played the character of a humorous villain. After the release of this film, I received death threats. Because the hero and heroine in that film died because of me.

In the film, I also loved the girl and because of that I create misunderstandings. My character was negative, but there was a little humor in it too. Both of them die because of the same character. That was the era when people became obsessed with films.

‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ revealed the power of TV

‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ had such an impact. Apart from this, some other films like ‘Naseeb Apna Apna’ have been special in my career. But I saw the biggest change when my TV show ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ came. Then I realized how tremendous is the power of TV. Only two-four episodes came and people went crazy. Wherever he went, he would walk on the road, people would follow him. There was no phone, he would take a camera and take photos, ask for autographs or talk. That was the real taste of success. The popularity was of a different level, even more than that of films.

Can’t work in TV shows for 30 days

After ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’, I did many popular TV shows like Shriman Shrimati, Yes Boss, Hum Sab Ek Hain, Jaane Do Bhi Paro. After this, when I did small roles in ‘Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain’ and ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’, people asked why small roles? Actually, it was my own choice. The producers want me to work for 30 days in each episode, but that doesn’t suit me.

I have to continue theatre, do films like ‘Dhurandhar’, so I need time. Those who do full shows are doing well. I don’t care. Earning money is easy, but what is the point if I cannot satisfy myself as an actor? If I just want money, I will do another business and earn 10 times more. But I want to do theatre, films, travel, all this, so I choose small roles on TV.

Devanand Saheb himself used to call from the front.

Today times have changed a bit. There was something different about those times. Devanand Saheb was a world famous superstar, but he was a very simple person. Used to call the artists himself. I did two-three films. In those days there were phones with round dials. Whenever the phone would ring, I would pick it up. There was a sound coming from the front. “Hello Rakesh, Dev here!” No in between, straight talk. Such a big star himself used to call from the front.

Yash Raj never went to production asking for work

Now things have changed a lot. Casting directors and agencies have arrived. Change is necessary with time, because if 100-100 people come for one role, then there should be filtration. But I always lived on my own terms. Never went to anyone’s office asking for work. I did not join any group so that I could enter Yash Raj and keep getting his films. Neither did he stick to any director.

If anyone needs me, he will come himself. But one has to be prepared for that. Therefore the preparation always continued. I can call those with whom I worked. Like done with Aditya Dhar in the film ‘Dhurandhar’. Before this film, I have worked with Aditya Dhar in ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, so I can ask for work from him, but I don’t go to someone I don’t know to ask for work.

Rakesh Bedi has played the role of Pakistani politician Jamil Khan in ‘Dhurandhar’.

ups and downs are part of life

There are ups and downs in the life of every actor. This happened even with a big star like Amitabh Bachchan. There was a long time when he was not getting work. These ups and downs are part of life. There were many ups and downs in my life too, but the difference with me was that my theater was always with me. If there were no films, I worked on stage. Rehearsals continued, mind remained active. I would memorize the lines, deliver, keep playing. The work kept going on.

spent the night eating bananas

In the initial days of my career, I had neither work nor money. There was no money even for food. Only 1 rupee was left in the bank balance. There were two ways, cry or move forward. But I never asked for money from the family, except to study at the Film Institute. Didn’t tell anything to avoid hurting my mother. At that time, 6 bananas were available for 1 rupee. I bought bananas, ate them and slept. Thought, today is over, we will see whatever happens tomorrow. The next day I borrowed it from a friend and proceeded further.

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Read last week’s success story…

Childhood spent in slum, neighbor stopped him from watching TV: Vipin Sharma decided to come on TV one day, got recognition from ‘Taare Zameen Par’

I grew up in a slum area of ​​Delhi, where there was neither electricity nor TV. We used to study sitting under the street light. The condition of some nearby houses was a little better than ours. There was also electricity and TV. I often went to their house and watched movies on TV, but many times they did not allow me to come.Read the full news….