There are some losses that a child cannot fully comprehend in the moment, only beginning to understand their weight much later in life. For Rajat Bedi, that understanding came years after he lost his father, acclaimed filmmaker Narendra Bedi, at the age of just nine. What once felt like an absence without meaning slowly turned into a deeper awareness of what it means to grow up without a father’s presence.

Rajat shares, “I lost my father when I was nine and couldn’t process the loss back then. As I grew up, I realized what it meant to have a father, who is often the strongest pillar and a protective figure in a child’s life. Later, when I saw other children with their fathers, I understood what I had missed and felt a huge vacuum.”

The absence also reshaped life for the family in practical and emotional ways. He says, “After my father’s death, it was very challenging because my mom has always been a housewife, and raising three children became extremely difficult for her. It is also true that the way our family was recognized changed. Earlier, the whole industry would be at our house, but after dad passed away, leaving one or two people aside, many turned their backs on us. However, I hold no grudges. My mom always tells us that dad believed in taking the positives and moving on with a smile and head held high.”

Rajat still carries fragments of memory that feel personal and vivid, especially moments from his childhood when his father, despite his demanding career, would make time for affection and warmth. He recalls, “I remember being with him on shoots, being with him on the bed, him hugging me and playing a little with me. But he used to be extremely busy.”

Looking back, The Ba***ds Of Bollywood actor understands the legacy Narendra Bedi left behind through films like Jawani Diwani, Benaam, Rafoo Chakkar and Maha Chor, which continue to be remembered as part of Hindi cinema’s popular era. But for him, that legacy extends far beyond cinema. It is also shaped by his personal journey of growing up without a father and how it has influenced the way he raises his children – Vivaan and Vera – today.

He shares, “Today, when I look at my relationship with them, I realize I am trying to give them what I missed with my father. I may not have had a long journey with him, but I hope he is proud of the father I have become. Main apne bachchon ko girne nahi deta... yahi hota hai baap ka hona.”

Actor Rajat Bedi is quite disturbed following the recent car accident involving him, which led to the death of one person. He says that even though he wasn’t at fault, he feels guilty and has decided to support the victim’s family in every possible way.

On September 6, Bedi’s car hit Rajesh Baudh in the D N Nagar area of Mumbai, following which he took the injured to the hospital, but unfortunately, the person didn’t survive. It has been reported that the actor has been booked for causing death by negligence. The case is still under investigation.

Breaking his silence for the first time after the incident, Bedi tells us, “The accident completely destroyed me. Even though it wasn’t my fault, I’m devastated... I tried my best to save his life.”

Bedi shares that he took care of all the expenses, including the funeral and he’ll continue to financially support the family of the deceased. “I’m just waiting for the police thing to get done with and then I’ll sit and look after (the victim’s) daughters and invest in fixed deposits for their future. I’ve also got his wife a stable job so that at least the family income will be decent,” shares the actor.

Looking back at the “traumatic” incident, the Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) actor shares, “After the accident, I just got out of the car, picked him and rushed to the hospital, all this while people kept saying, ‘Arrey actor hai, actor’, implying all the previous accident-related incidents involving actors. Thankfully, the accident didn’t happen at night. It happened at 5.30 pm, nahi toh they would’ve assumed ki main peekar gaadi chala raha tha.”

He goes on, “It was crazy at the government hospital. There was no one to look at him and I was freaking out, ‘What the hell is happening, this person needs immediate medical attention’. But after that, they took up his case and gave him attention, while I took care of everything financially and also arranged blood for him at 3 in the morning.”

“I’ll not get over this guilt, and just hope time will heal the unfortunate, traumatic scars a bit,” he ends.

Rajat Bedi, who had moved to Vancouver, Canada, is now set for his second innings in the entertainment business with a new name. Says the actor, who's best remembered for his role in Koi...Mil Gaya, “Shifting to another country was not a planned decision. I was not happy with my film career and Vancouver was beckoning with a multitude of business possibilities.“

Set to face the camera as well as go behind it, the actor has rechristened himself Raj Singh Bedi. He explains, “My father always wanted to call me Raj, but my mother changed it to Rajat. Since this is my second innings in the business, I would like to change my name to Raj. Also, it has always been a lucky name in the industry.“

Currently playing the role of a producer, he and his sister, Ila Bedi Datta, have adapted their grandfather Rajinder Singh Bedi's book Lajwanti into a TV show. He says, “Ila had been trying to make Lajwanti into a film for years. When that didn't fructify, she decided to adapt it for the small screen as it's a woman-centric topic and relevant even in today's times. It's an epic love story between Lajwanti and Sunderlal, which blossoms amidst the chaos and bloodbath of the Partition. I would like to add that my grandfather was on the verge of making Lajwanti as a film and he was considering thespian Dilip Kumar and the inimitable Nutan for the lead roles.“

Raj will soon return to acting after a hiatus of 10 years. “After having worked in over 40 movies, I suddenly took a break and ventured to Canada for better business prospects. But life always felt incomplete being away from the film industry, as this is where I belong. I am the third generation in the film business and would like to keep the Bedi flagship going. I have some projects in the pipeline as an actor and producer,“ he reveals, adding, “I have already signed a couple of films and would be starting work in November.“

Since he is making television shows, does he plan to act in one, too? “I've come back with an open mind and would consider television if the offer is exciting. I would like to do something in an action series as that's what I feel I am built for,“ replies Raj, who has maintained a fit body despite being away from the arclights.