BOOK REVIEW: “Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor” by Kabir Bedi

 

Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor by Kabir Bedi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesome biography. So many notable things about Kabir's life and philosophies including Parveen Babi's psychological suffering and death and his schizophrenic son's suicide at the young age of 22. Indeed, Kabir is right to write the title as "Stories I Must Tell" and not just because he is a descendant of the founder of the Sikh religion or his British mother becoming the first Buddhist nun.

Thanks to a close Maldivian friend who lent me this book.

Kabir offers a candid look into his life, and some notable aspects include:

Honest Revelations: The book is known for its frankness about his personal life, including his relationships, marriages, and the emotional turmoil he experienced. He discusses his relationships with notable figures like Parveen, adding depth to their well-known story. He also goes into detail about very personal issues, such as the mental health problems of his son.

A Life Spanning Continents: The book chronicles his extensive career that spans Bollywood, Hollywood, and European cinema, providing insights into the entertainment industry across different cultures. The book details his experiences working on iconic projects like "Sandokan" and "Octopussy."

Personal Struggles and Triumphs: It delves into the challenges he faced in his personal life, including heartbreak and loss, alongside his professional successes. The book also shows his drive, and how he has continued to work in many different areas of entertainment.

Insights Into a Diverse Career: Readers gain an understanding of the diverse roles he has played in film, television, and theater, showcasing his versatility as an actor. It gives a view of the inner workings of the entertainment industry from the view point of an actor who has worked in many different countries.

In essence, the book provides a personal and comprehensive account of Kabir’s life, highlighting both his professional achievements and his personal struggles.

For me, during my childhood, I remember Kabir mostly as the villain in the 1988 Hindi movie "Khoon Bhari Maang" by director Rakesh Roshan. My imagination was very much captured when he throws his wife Rekha into a crocodile infested river, hoping she would get killed, so that he can inherit all her wealth and live with Sonu Walia but which didn't quite turn out as he had expected.

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