‘I have bared my soul’

Nonika Singh

Handsome head-turner, quintessential ladies’ man, one of India’s first international stars or just grist for the gossip mills, there are many ways to look at Kabir Bedi who has over the years created more than a flutter with more than his looks.

But with his memoir, Stories I Must Tell, he turns a story teller with aplomb. The reason why he turned to writing this book that sure is tell-all for he wanted to share the many stories of his life, great loves and deep losses, the triumphs and defeats, stupendous successes and pit-bottom failures . "Life," he says, "is not a fairytale." And for this Sandokan star, who experienced adulation in Italy and disappointments in Hollywood, it has been as much about agony as ecstasy.

Of course, he had a choice to sugar-coat it all but he let the chips fall where they may. What to reveal and what to conceal was a dilemma he did face. Since the two women (Protima Bedi and Parveen Babi) he loved dearly and lost are not alive any more, the quandary could have been more ticklish. But he says, "I have treated these women with great respect." While much of his relationship with the two beauties, one rock solid and the other delicately fragile, is already in public domain, he feels, "I had to tell my version too."

Certainly, the book dwells more upon Protima and Parveen (as compared to other women in his life) and he agrees, "I had to talk about them for they were an important part of my journey and at the most transformative moments. But my book is a series of stories from my spiritual beliefs to my family's fortune being changed by a revolt in Tibet. It is as much about our family village Dera Baba Nanak, my mother Freda Bedi's Satyagraha as my adventures in Hollywood and great success in Italy. "

For a man who has gone through an emotional rollercoaster ride not just with Protima and Parveen( Babi) but a host of other women till he found stability in his current wife Parveen Dusanj, the world might see a philanderer in him. Yet he insists, "I am an eternal romantic who never lost faith in marriage for I was always looking for love."

Strangely Kabir's life may have been one of constant upheavals and chance encounters. Come to think of it, he would never have met Parveen (his present wife) had he not performed in Far Pavillions at West End Theatre, London. Yet, he doesn't believe in destiny. The son of a spiritual healer Baba Bedi, instead he reposes faith in beliefs. He deems, "We make choices based on our beliefs and our choices create our reality."

Yes, choices have consequences as his did and there are more than a couple where he erred. But just as you can't undo wrong ones, bittersweet ones can sometimes green-light your course. He recalls what he dubs as 'AIR's betrayal' losing the tape of his exclusive interview with Beatles with mixed feelings. He avers, "Had things panned out differently I could still have been in Delhi."

Interestingly, while his book begins with how he as a rookie managed an interview of Beatles while freelancing for AIR, the journalist in him appears to be alive and kicking even today. In the book you see his journalistic qualities surface more than once. Even as a noted star he could not resist catching many an international celebrity off guard with his probing enquiries. He admits, "I wanted to write this book like world's best journalists do; essentially bank on the strength of a story."

Among many other conscious choices has been his non-linear style of writing, going back and forth connecting pieces in free-flowing narrative style. Besides, he seems to be blessed with an elephantine memory as he recalls his eventful journey dotted with innumerable interactions capturing little details and the milieu. While recounting events which touched him emotionally was easy, for political and other period references he did research. There are many takeaways from his book. Yet one thing he wants readers to absorb is, "don't shy away from admitting your mistakes as well as acknowledging your achievements. Besides, have the courage to be different."

The bottom-line for him has also been to pen a page-turner, an un-putdownable fare as honestly as he could. How well, you can check out as the book releases (published by Westland Publications) on April 19. One thing is for sure is the book has triggered the writer's bug in him and Kabir's 'great love for words" will continue to regale us with many more tales.

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