Kabir Bedi, Parveen Babi love-affair: Actor reveals about his open marriage with Protima and how it ended

Actor Kabir Bedi opens up about his life, ex-wife Protima Gupta, lover Parveen Babi and more in his upcoming autobiography. He has also written about his journey in Bollywood too

Richa Barua

Bangalore, First Published Apr 12, 2021, 12:26 PM IST | Last Updated Apr 12, 2021, 12:26 PM IST

Just like Priyanka Chopra, veteran actor Kabir Bedi also penned his memoir, 'Stories I Must Tell' in the lockdown period. In his autobiography, he spoke about his Bollywood journey and personal relationships.

In one of the chapters, the actor has written about his failed open marriage with Odissi dancer Protima Gupta. Bedi also mentioned his successful love life with late actress Parveen Babi.

Bedi revealed that he was not happy with his open marriage and was feeling alone and unhappy.

The excerpt of his memoir reads, "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. Parveen Babi filled that void. She was a ravishingly beautiful actress with fair skin, long black hair and dark, mesmerising eyes. Until then, I'd always thought of her as 'the girlfriend of Danny Denzongpa'. He was a good-looking Sikkimese actor, two years younger than me, a year older than Parveen. In the years ahead, he would become a highly successful villain in Bollywood and be nominated for many Filmfare Awards. 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."

Bedi shared how he told Protima that he has fallen in love with Parveen and wrote,"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.' In that moment, she realised 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."

The actor lately said to media that he has "poured (his) heart into this book about (his) turbulent professional and emotional life."

Bedi and Protima Gupta got divorced in 1977 and have a daughter together Pooja Bedi. Bollywood actress Parveen Babi passed away in 2005 of multiple organ failure.

In the early 90s, Bedi got married to a TV presenter Nikki Bedi and then got divorced in 2005. After that, Bedi has been in a relationship with British-born Parveen Dusanj, 28 years younger than him. They got married a day before his 70th birthday.

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