Pooja Bedi opens up on parents Kabir Bedi and late Protima Bedi’s open marriage, reveals her bond with father

Bollywood star Kabir Bedi and late Protima Bedi experimented with an open marriage in the 1970s, but the experiment didn’t last. The couple had hoped the arrangement would allow them to co-parent while exploring other relationships, believing it would bring stability.

However, Kabir later admitted that he struggled with his wife seeing other men and that the arrangement simply didn’t suit them, leading to their divorce in 1974.

Pooja’s perspective: Non-judgmental and understanding

Their daughter Pooja Bedi recently spoke about the episode in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, reflecting on her parents’ choices and the perspective she developed growing up. On being asked about the arrangement, she said she never judged them. “Everyone is different.

What we define as marriage, engagement, or friendship is just an experience we choose. Was I affected? I was five years old, what would I know? Later on, I realized it’s their life, their body, their choices.

I’m not here to tell people how to live their lives,” Pooja said, emphasizing her non-judgmental approach.She also opened up about her relationship with her father, describing him as a “gentle giant.” “I love Daddy.

He has never yelled at me in his life. If he’s concerned, he just says, ‘Darling, we need to talk.’ He’s kind, evolved, well-spoken, and emotionally and mentally well-travelled,” she said.

Growing up between two worlds

Pooja recalled growing up in a unique household shaped by her parents’ professions. While her mother’s life as a classical dancer involved long tours, rustic accommodations, and humble beginnings for her Nithyagram project, her father’s international film career exposed her to glamour and luxury.

“I learned to be equally happy sitting on a mud floor eating chapati and dal with villagers or walking into a 7-star hotel in Beverly Hills.

Both are experiences, and I pick what works for me,” she said.Reflecting on the lessons from her parents, Pooja highlighted adaptability as key. “I learned to blend worlds effortlessly, understand their dynamics, and make choices for myself. That’s the life my parents taught me — freedom, respect, and happiness in all forms.”