Rakesh Bedi is an Indian theatre artist and film & TV actor. He is known for playing the role of Omi in the Hindi film ‘Chashme Buddoor’ (1981) and Dilruba Jarnail Singh Khurana a.k.a. Dilruba in the Hindi TV serial ‘Shrimaan Shrimati’ (1982).
Wiki/Biography
Rakesh Bedi was born on Wednesday, 1 December 1954 (age 68 years; as of 2022) in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He did his schooling at DPS Mathura Road, Delhi and Kendriya Vidyalaya Andrews Ganj, New Delhi.
Rakesh Bedi’s childhood picture with his mother
He then pursued his graduation at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, New Delhi. Later, he graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Maharashtra.
Rakesh Bedi with David Dhawan during his initial days in theatre
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 80 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father, Madan Gopal Bedi, was an aeronautical engineer with Indian Airlines.
Rakesh Bedi and his father
Wife & Children
In 1985, he got married to Aradhana Bedi, who works as a Chief Executive Officer at the film production company Cinema Vision India in Mumbai. He has two daughters Ritika Bedi and Ridhima Bedi. Ritika works as a Talent Collab Manager at the OTT platform The Viral Fever, and Ridhima works as an actor.
Rakesh Bedi with his wife and daughters
Rakesh Bedi with his daughters
Career
Theatre
Rakesh started his career as a theatre artist. He has been associated with various theatre groups like Pierrot’s Troupe, Delhi and Film and Television Institute of India, Pune for a very long time. He has performed in many Hindi theatre plays, and some of his popular theatre plays are Massage, Jab We Separated, and Patte Khul Gaye. In the theatre play ‘Massage,’ he played 24 different characters.
Rakesh Bedi’s theatre play Jab We Separated
Film
Hindi
In 1979, he made his Bollywood debut with the film ‘Hamare Tumhare’ in which he played the role of Sunil.
Hamare Tumhare film poster
He then acted in more than 150 Hindi films. Some of his popular Hindi films are ‘Chashme Buddoor’ (1981), ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ (1985), ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin’ (1991), ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ (2001), ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ (2019), and ‘Coolie No. 1’ (2020).
A still of Rakesh Bedi as a senior ISI officer from the Hindi film Uri The Surgical Strike
He is known for playing comic roles in various Hindi films like ‘Naseeb Apna Apna’ (1986), ‘Saajan Chale Sasural’ (1996), ‘Hero No. 1’ (1997), ‘Hadh Kar Di Aapne’ (2000), and ‘Indoo Ki Jawani’ (2020).
A still of Rakesh Bedi from the Hindi film Naseeb Apna Apna
Other Languages
He played the role of Karamdeen/Karam Singh in the 2006 Punjabi film ‘Main Tu Assi Tussi.’
Main Tu Assi Tussi
In 2011, he made his Marathi film debut with the film ‘One Room Kitchen’ in which he played the role of a Gujarati broker.
One Room Kitchen
In 2019, he appeared in another Marathi film titled ‘Triple Seat.’
Triple Seat
He made his Gujarati film debut with ‘Kevi Rite Jaish’ (2012) as Daulatram Chainani.
Kevi Rite Jaish
Television
In 1984, he made his TV debut with the DD National serial ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ as Raja.
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
He then acted in many popular Hindi TV serials like ‘Yeh Duniya Ghazab Ki’ (1992; Doordarshan), ‘Zabaan Sambhalke’ (1993; DD Metro), ‘Shrimaan Shrimati’ (1994; Doordarshan), ‘Yes Boss’ (1999; SAB TV), and ‘Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan’ (2016; SAB TV).
Shrimaan Shrimati
Web Series
In 2017, he made his web series debut with the TVF Play series ‘F.A.T.H.E.R.S.’ as Mehta.
F.A.T.H.E.R.S.
He then appeared in the Hindi web series ‘FATHERS Season 2’ (2019; MX Player) and ‘Home Shanti’ (2022; Disney+ Hotstar).
FATHERS season 2
Short Film
He has also appeared in a few Hindi short films like ‘Bonga’ (1976), ‘Social Distancing’ (2020), ‘Mera Number Kag Ayega’ (2021), and ‘Rent’ (2021).
Other Work
In 2012, he hosted the educational TV show ‘Science with Brain Café’ which aired on ZeeQ.
Rakesh Bedi in Science with Brain Café
He worked as a writer-director in the 2015 Hindi podcast series ‘Mera Wo Matlab Nahin Tha.’
Mera Wo Matlab Nahin Tha
In 2019, he lent his voice to the Hindi version of the English film ‘Dumbo’ for the character of Max Medici. He has been invited as a guest lecturer at various acting institutes like North East Film Institute and CINTAA.
Rakesh Bedi with the students of North East Film Institute
Rakesh Bedi is a poet too and has organised various poetry sessions.
Favourites
- Film(s): Scent of a Woman (1992), The Godfather (1972), Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai (2012), Mokshya (2014)
Award & Honours
- 2017: Honorary Doctorate by Victoria Global University
Rakesh Bedi with his honorary degree
- 2021: Best Actor for the Hindi short film Mera Number Kag Ayega by NEXGN International Short Film Festival
Rakesh Bedi’s award
- 2022: Life Time Achievement Award from Murari Bapu in his Gurukul near Rajkot
Rakesh Bedi being felicitated
Facts/Trivia
- While Rakesh was studying in school, he participated in various mono-acting and drama competitions. After observing his inclination towards acting, his father suggested him to make his career as a mining engineer. On his father’s advice, he even appeared for the entrance exam of engineering, but only after 5 minutes of the exam, he returned the answer sheet to the examiner of the entrance exam and said that he had arrived at the wrong address.
- In an interview, while remembering his school days, he shared that in his higher secondary exam, he performed poorly in the chemistry theory paper and was relying on the practicals to get passing marks. He said,
The school teacher who came to evaluate the practical exam was told that I had stood first in the Delhi Mono Acting competition and second in the Delhi Mono Acting competition and second in the All India Mono Acting competition, and since I had been attending these contests, I had not prepared well. On hearing this, the teacher took me to his room, locked it, and asked me to perform. He was thoroughly entertained and kept laughing. It was then that I realised that acting was my calling.”
- In an interview, he shared how he got his first offer for a Hindi film. In 1976, he was performing at the convocation event of FTII, Pune. As a chief guest, the Indian film producer G. P. Sippy was invited to the event. After watching Rakesh’s performance, Sippy offered him a role in the Hindi film ‘Ahsaas.’ He received Rs 1500- Rs 2000 for the film which he spent on giving treat to his friends.
- In 1972, he started a theatre group Ankur Arts in Delhi.
- Rakesh is a lifetime member of the International Film & Television Club of the Asian Academy of Film & Television and the World Peace Development & Research Foundation.
- He considers the English comedian Charlie Chaplin his role model.
- He once shared that he inherited acting from his maternal grandfather, who used to perform in various theatre plays.
- Rakesh is a spiritual person and often visits various religious places.
Rakesh Bedi at the golden temple