A life less ordinary

KABIR BEDI, THE ACTOR WHO APPEARED IN THE HIT ITALIAN TV SERIES SANDOKAN AND BEDAZZLED IN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, NOW TELLS THE STORY OF HIS TUMULTUOUS JOURNEY AND JOSTLE THROUGH A GRIPPING PAGE-TURNER

- Lubna Salim

THAT I HAVE A THING FOR the antihero became apparent when many moons ago one winter weekend, I sat glued to the television as Rekha-starrer Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) played on Cable TV. While my siblings made angry remarks at the villain Kabir Bedi, I quite enjoyed his performance. Sure, he was the bad guy, but with such dapper looks and suave mannerism...

Later, when I studied Shakespeare in college, I understood the concept, and charm, of an antihero. Life came full circle when, recently, I connected with Kabir Bedi, 68, over a call on a sultry Saturday afternoon.

Of course, I had devoured every page of his gripping, candid memoir titled Stories I Must Tell — The Emotional Life of an Actor. As expected, Kabir answers the call with his signature baritone, which gives a feeling of deja vu from his Parle English Marie ad voiceover.