Running free

MODEL AND ACTOR ANGAD BEDI HAS GONE BACK TO SPORTS AND RECENTLY WON A MEDAL AT AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT. RUPSA SEN ASKS HIM THE SECRET OF JUGGLING DIFFERENT CAREERS

You recently won the gold at the Open International Masters 2023 Athletics Championship in Dubai. What was that experience like?

Yes, it was wonderful. It’s a great feeling to represent your country. It’s a great feeling to do something different. I’ve always believed that you should have a personality outside your profession and I feel that in my very being, in my bones and in my blood, there is sportsmanship drilled in me through my childhood days. I’m proud of the fact that I could run this 400-metre race for my country. This has been my tribute to my father. He always wanted to see me run fast. I wanted him to see this race. I wanted him to take him to Dubai. But I feel God had other plans, so he was not physically there. But I could feel his energy from the beginning right to the end while I was running on that track.

What are some of the special memories and lessons that you’ve learned from your father that continue to guide you in your personal and professional life today?

I always believe in one thing that he said: that you put your heart and soul into whatever you do. He said that we meet many people throughout the course of our lives and the only way to know if they connect with you is if you are a good human. He used to say, “Accha insaan banna sikho, films toh kitne bhi kar loge, sports kitna bhi khel loge lekin acha insan banna bahut zaruri hai.” Everyone wants good people in their lives, and if you find good people, always treasure them and keep them close to you.

So how do you find strength and support during this time of grieving?