Rakesh Bedi

Some Lesser Known Facts About Rakesh Bedi

• Rakesh Bedi is an Indian TV & film actor and theatre artist. He gained immense popularity by 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).

• While he was studying in school, he was not good at his studies. In an interview, he shared an incident from his school days. He said,
  

  I performed poorly in the chemistry theory paper and was relying on the practicals to get passing marks. 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.”

  

• During his school days, he won various mono-acting and drama competitions. Later, he decided to make his career in acting. However, his parents were not happy with his decision to make his career in the entertainment industry. His father then suggested him to pursue his graduation in engineering. Later, he appeared for the engineering entrance exam, but within 5 minutes of the exam, he returned the answer sheet to the invigilator and said he had arrived at the wrong address.

• Later, he did a graduation course in acting from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Maharashtra. ^[3]YouTube – Sansad TV

  

• He then started working as a theatre artist with various theatre groups such as Pierrot’s Troupe, Delhi and Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Some of his popular theatre plays are Massage, Jab We Separated, and Patte Khul Gaye. He has played 24 characters in the theatre play Massage.

  

• In 1976, while he was performing at the convocation event of FTII in Pune, the Indian film producer G. P. Sippy loved his performance and offered him a role in the Hindi film ‘Ahsaas.’ For the film, he received Rs 1500-Rs 2000, and he spent the entire money to give a party to his friends. ^[4]The Indian Express

• In 1972, Rakesh Bedi started a theatre group named Ankur Arts in Delhi.

• He then acted in Hindi short films such as ‘Bonga’ (1976), ‘Social Distancing’ (2020), ‘Mera Number Kab Aayega’ (2021), and ‘Rent’ (2021).

• Rakesh has appeared in more than 150 Hindi films including ‘Chashme Buddoor’ (1981), ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ (1985), ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin’ (1991), ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ (2001), ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’ (2019), and ‘Coolie No. 1’ (2020).

  

• He gained immense popularity for playing comic roles in Hindi films such as ‘Naseeb Apna Apna’ (1986), ‘Saajan Chale Sasural’ (1996), ‘Hero No. 1’ (1997), ‘Hadh Kar Di Aapne’ (2000), and ‘Indoo Ki Jawani’ (2020).

  

• Rakesh has also acted in many Hindi TV serials such as ‘Yeh Duniya Gazab 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).

• In 2006, he appeared in the Punjabi film ‘Main Tu Assi Tussi’ in which he played the role of Karamdeen/Karam Singh.

  

• He hosted the ZeeQ TV show ‘Science with Brain Café’ in 2012.

  

• In 2012, he worked as a writer-director in the Hindi podcast series ‘Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha.’

  

• He has also appeared in the Marathi film ‘Triple Seat’ (2019).

  

• Apart from films and TV serials, Rakesh has acted in Hindi web series such as ‘FATHERS Season 2’ (2019; MX Player) and ‘Home Shanti’ (2022; Disney+ Hotstar).

  

• In 2019, he dubbed the Hindi version of the character of Max Medici in the English film ‘Dumbo.’ The character was originally played by Danny DeVito.

• Rakesh has also appeared as a guest lecturer at various acting institutes like North East Film Institute and CINTAA.

  

• He has worked as a poet, and he has performed in various poetry sessions.

• He is a lifetime member of the International Film & Television Club of the Asian Academy of Film & Television and the World Peace Development & Research Foundation.

• In an interview, he shared that the English comedian Charlie Chaplin was his role model. He further shared that he developed an interest in acting after watching his maternal grandfather performing in theatre plays.

• He is a religious person. He often visits his nearby temples and gurudwaras.

  

Shrimaan Shrimati