Protima Bedi

Leading a Bohemian lifestyle, Protima wasn't afraid of doing what she wanted, even if it went against every single rule of society. She loved to shock and was unapologetic about her actions. Streaking in public, having an open marriage, being an unconventional parent, giving it all up to discover her inner spirituality and finally leading an ascetic's life, Protima's life was filled with colour, controversy and scandal.

THE REBELLIOUS YOUNG GIRL

Protima's father had married outside his community and fearing criticism from society, he moved from place to place with his family. Travelling around the country, staying in a boarding school and getting acquainted with new people and cultures had a profound influence on Protima who decided early on that she would be independent.

She Incurs The Wrath Of Her Family
 
Protima hailed from a well-off family but she wanted to make a name of her own and she saw modelling as a means to do it. Her parents had no clue about her aspirations for glamour; they found out only when they saw her picture in a nightgown for Bombay Dyeing splashed on the front page of a newspaper.

Sources say Protima's father was furious and even slapped her hard because he was against her career choice. The rebellious daughter ran away from home to pursue her dreams and used the money she earned from modelling to pay her rent.

MEETING KABIR BEDI

Entering the fashion world against her parent's wishes was the least of her scandalous acts. During her modelling days, Protima apparently dated quite a few men. But all that changed when Nina Gupta introduced to her to one of the most handsome men in the industry, Kabir Bedi. It didn't take long for her to fall in love with him. Kabir was not only good-looking but also extremely liberated – just like her. Within months of dating, she got pretty serious about Kabir and decided to move in with him.

Her involvement with Kabir angered her father even more and he forced her to return home. The police was also called in but within three days she left home again and neither her parents nor the police could do much as she was an adult. Unfortunately, her obstinacy had its repercussions. Ten days after she ran away, her father died in a car crash. Protima was quite shaken especially since she hadn't meant to hurt her family deliberately.






A chance visit to Bhulabhai Memorial Institute changed her life forever. She was so impressed after watching the Odissi dance performance that she decided to learn Odissi and became the disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Inspite of the complex rhythm and sophisticated hand and eye movements of the Odissi she did not lose heart and continue to practice 12-14 hours a day. To attain the proficiency in dance she also started learning Abhinay from Guru Kalanidhi Narayan of Madras.

This worshipper of dance started her own dance school at Prithvi Theater in Mumbai which later came to be known as the Odissi Dance Center. She set up 'Nrityagram', a dance village on the outskirts of Bangalore to impart training to students . This dance village established on the principle of guru shishya parampara was inaugurated on May 11, 1990.

In 1998 Protima went to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and after a landslide she could not be traced. This model who devoted herself completely to the sadhna of the Odissi was lost forever.

Timepass, her autobiography, was posthumously published by her daughter Pooja Bedi.