When some stars write their autobiographies the question most readers ask is “Why?”
Quite often, there is very little that has occurred during the brief duration of their 'stardom' that is worth chronicling. It becomes amply clear that their overnight popularity has led their
agents to recommend writing a book with an aim to make hay while the sun is
shining.
When you read the memoirs such as that of Kabir Bedi who has led a remarkable and very eventful life, most readers will wonder “What earth took you so long?”
Kabir Bedi began in All India Radio and managed to shine as he secured an interview with the Beatles at their prime. When the AIR was unappreciative of this commendable effort and in fact recorded over this Bedi’s Beatles interview tape, an understandably disgruntled Bedi set forth to Mumbai.
In Mumbai, then known as Bombay, he worked as an advertising
executive and even made advert films. He went on to conquer the theatre playing
the title role in the play Girish Karnad’s famous play Tuglaq, which lead to stardom
in the Hindi film industry.
Then the Italians came calling with the ground-breaking
mini-series Sandokan. The series caused such a sensation that it was compared
with Beatlemania at its peak. It made Bedi a phenomenon in Italy and all over
Europe. To this very day, Bedi is a household name in Italy and received the
equivalent of a knighthood from the Italian government.
He then moved to explore Hollywood where he did achieve
success but this was the pre-diversity era which mean that there was always a
glass ceiling for Indian actors. Had he been a thirty-something actor in contemporary
Hollywood today, he would have been as the next 007.
His early life was eventful with his illustrious parents. His
mother, Freda Bedi, who hailed from England, became a satyagrahi in Gandhi’s non-violent
struggle for Indian independence and eventually the highest-ranking Buddhist nun.
His father, Baba Bedi was a left-wing intellectual and philosopher who helped author
the Constitution of Kashmir.
Bedi had relationships with many very beautiful,
strong, vibrant, independent, and bohemian women. He also suffered inexplicable pain
and inexorable trauma of losing his young son Siddharth to schizophrenia.
What a life it has been and there is surely much more to come.
A possible advantage of writing one’s memoirs at a later
stage of one’s life is that it offers more perspective. Revisiting events after
a span of time when the passions and emotions have calmed down leads to a degree of objectivity. The events that one felt so strongly about once upon a time, feel mundane while the obstinacy feels gratuitous considering the larger scheme of events.
Another very valid reason for Bedi to write his memoirs was that his
first wife Protima Bedi had published her version of the truth in her memoirs entitled
Timepass: The Memoirs of Protima Bedi (1999) also he felt he was portrayed
unfairly in the biography of his long-time girlfriend Parveen Babi. He
was thus perfectly entitled to put out his version of the truth and allow the
public to be the judge.
Writing memoirs is always a tough exercise for movie superstars.
In other cases, the star may have lived a great life but is reluctant to delve deeply into the unpleasant aspects. The result is vanilla ice cream biography or worse a self-hagiography that has no relation with the truth and where the subject always emerges on top, is the perennially moral, virtuous, and popular. It seems unreal and hence predictable
If the star follows the path of brutal honesty and lays everything before the world including questionable actions, foibles, shortcomings, and private details, he runs the risk of diminishing himself in the eyes of the myriad fans.
It can also erode the mystique that makes a star an enigma such that the fans are always intrigued by what occurs behind the scenes. Quite
often the fans prefer to know the euphemistic version of the truth and the gory details suddenly change the perspective and ruin the carefully cultivated image.
There have been plenty of instances where stars have embarked on
the project of writing an autobiography but have abandoned it midway because facing the truth is not easy and documenting
it all for the world is obviously an arduous effort.
The best kind of memoir is when the star manages to be
objective and attempts to arrive as close to the truth as possible.
Does Kabir Bedi manage to achieve this feat?
Emphatically yes, the book is a winner both in its style and
its substance.
This isn’t the traditional autobiography that begins with his
birth and proceeds chronologically
through his life. Each chapter in the book stands on its own and almost
functions as a short story. While it is preparable that the reader reads the
chapters chronologically, they can quite easily shuffle the order and it wouldn’t
make much of a difference.
The prose is powerful, evocative, immersive, and flows in a
manner such that it almost appears as if the author is talking to you. The
descriptions and the fashion in which the event unfolds paint pictures that are
so vivid that it has a cinematic quality. Should this be made into a web
series, the authors won’t have to work too hard converting it to a screenplay.
The biggest accomplishment of the book is Bedi’s honesty and self-reflection
and his attempt to be objective.
The individual in the book that he is most unsparing about is himself.
At every juncture when he offers criticisms of another’s
behavior or actions, he follows it with an introspective consideration that he
probably contributed to the way things turned out, or perhaps he could have
reacted differently to the unreasonable behavior.
Bedi is very empathetic about the people in his life, especially those not around anymore. Everybody here is a victim of the situation either living in the moment or on impulse.
While he does offer criticism, the book by no means passes moral judgment on the others. Also, what is most commendable is that at no juncture does he indulge in self-justificatory excuses. He projects himself as flawed and vulnerable which is makes the book a riveting read. The honesty only adds to your respect and admiration of the man.
The book hence archives the difficult feat of probes deeply into matters that are most personal without devolving into voyeurism or luridly or salaciousness. To put it simply, none of the people mentioned in the book are likely to feel offended or embarrassed by what is described.
Another achievement is that the book paints a detailed but respectful
picture of mental ailment. Quite often, the unsung hero of the ordeal is
the partner who has to be most tolerant and forgiving is often unfairly bears
the brunt of the many destructive hurricanes caused by the ailing. Reading this book will cause the reader to have a deeper understanding and empathy for the suffering of the ailing.
The book is also replete with moments of joy, triumph, and romance. Bedi describes being mobbed by fans of his series Sandokan in Italy. He also details his experiences traveling all over the globe making movies and TV shows. He recounts living a great life in Hollywood and working on many prestigious projects.
A highlight of the book is the stirring manner in which Bedi relives the tender and very precious moments he shared with the women in his life, you almost feel you are there experiencing the beauty of it all.
While Bedi does describe the various lessons life taught him
and the myriad epiphanies he achieved, a great many messages are in the subtext
of the occurrences. For the reader seeking something deeper, there is a lot to
explore and those seeking an easy read will find this an enjoyable
experience.
Bedi also describes experiences with a host of celluloid luminaries
such as Sir Roger Moore, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Gina
Lollobrigida, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Ben Kingsley Rock Hudson, and Omar Sharif
Beyond show business, Bedi talks about meeting Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and the Dalai Lama.
He describes the impression they left on him and the enjoyable moments they shared.
The fact that
nobody gets an uncharitable mention is owing to the fact that he
opted to leave the villains in his life beyond the realms of the book. This is commendable considering that mud-slinging at the famous is an easy way to hit headlines and sell copies. Bedi is too classy a gent to stoop that low.
Bedi shares quotes and letters that he either sent or received, he even shares the suicide note of his son Siddharth. This adds to the stark realism and enhances the emotional depth of the experience. It is important to add that this does not feel manipulative or contrived to elicit an emotional response. It is Bedi attempting his best to lay how matters were at that juncture.
My favorite chapter is where Bedi details his pursuit for truth and spirituality. He was deeply influenced and also offers his opinions on the teachings of Nanak, the Sufi poet Kabir, Buddha, and various religious texts. Quite often the quest is more rewarding than the actual outcome and the chapter evocatively describes the journey in the search for truth.
Bedi also describes how his spirituality helped him cope with the setbacks in his life.
In conclusion, this is an absorbing read and an honest reflection of the many occurrences in Kabir Bedi’s most remarkable life that is both entertaining, poignant, and illuminating.
Hopefully, there will be a sequel and hopefully, it will be adapted into a series.
In fact, it has the quality that could make a grand opera. Considering it has been translated into Italian, perhaps some of the great auteurs of the opera may consider this a possibility.
It is said literature works best when the reader emerges from
the experience with a smile on the face, dry tears on the cheek, and indelible
thoughts in the mind.
This book emphatically delivers on all these counts.
Go out and buy it now!
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