{{Short description|Indian-Canadian actor and producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Rajat Bedi | image = Rajat Bedi in 2014.jpg | caption = Bedi in 2014 | birth_date = | birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | citizenship = Canadian | occupation = Actor, producer, former model | years_active = 1994–present | spouse = Monalisa Bedi | children = 2 | relatives = Bedi family }}
'''Rajat Bedi''' is an Indo-Canadian actor, producer, and former model known primarily for his work in Hindi cinema, with roles in Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. He is the son of director-producer Narendra Bedi and grandson of Urdu writer-director Rajinder Singh Bedi.<ref name="Moneycontrol2025">{{Cite web |title=Who is Rajat Bedi? Know everything about Koi Mil Gaya actor who made a smashing comeback with The Bads Of Bollywood |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/who-is-rajat-bedi-know-everything-about-koi-mil-gaya-actor-who-made-a-smashing-comeback-with-the-bads-of-bollywood-article-13583961.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250926111002/https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/who-is-rajat-bedi-know-everything-about-koi-mil-gaya-actor-who-made-a-smashing-comeback-with-the-bads-of-bollywood-article-13583961.html |archive-date=26 September 2025 |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life == Rajat Bedi was born in Mumbai, India, to filmmaker Narendra Bedi and is the grandson of Rajinder Singh Bedi, an important Urdu writer also known for penning the dialogues of classics like ''Satyakam'' (1969). After his father’s death at age 45, when Rajat was 9, the family faced financial hardship. In a 2024 interview, Bedi recalled that only filmmaker Prakash Mehra provided financial support to his mother for several months.<ref name="IndianExpress2024">{{Cite news |last=Express Web Desk |date=19 September 2024 |title=Rajat Bedi says no one from film industry supported his family except Prakash Mehra: ‘He sent money home for months’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rajat-bedi-says-no-one-from-film-industry-supported-family-except-prakash-mehra-10289294/ |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Indian Express}}</ref> Two years later, his grandfather’s death further distanced the family from Bollywood. His mother encouraged him to re-enter the industry at 18 by assisting director Ramesh Sippy. During the filming of ''Zamaana Deewana'' (1995), Shah Rukh Khan nicknamed him "Tiger".<ref name="IndianExpress2024" />
== Career ==
=== Fashion model === Bedi began his career as a fashion model, winning the inaugural Gladrags Manhunt Contest in 1994.<ref name="Hindu2004">{{cite news |date=26 July 2004 |title=Baddie cool |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/26/stories/2004072601040400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040930134011/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/07/26/stories/2004072601040400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2004 |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
=== Actor === Bedi debuted as a lead in the 1998 sci-fi film ''2001: Do Hazaar Ek'', which was a commercial failure.<ref name="Hindu2004" /> He transitioned to supporting and antagonistic roles, gaining recognition for playing Raj Saxena in the 2003 blockbuster ''Koi... Mil Gaya'', directed by Rakesh Roshan.<ref name="TimesNow2025">{{Cite web |date=21 August 2025 |title=Ba***ds Of Bollywood: 'OG Villain' Rajat Bedi's Comeback Takes Internet By Storm, Fans Thank Aryan Khan |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/web-series/bads-of-bollywood-og-villain-rajat-bedi-comeback-takes-internet-by-storm-fans-thank-aryan-khan-srk-article-152499376 |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Times Now |language=en}}</ref> He has appeared in over 40 films, including ''Jodi No.1'' (2001), ''Rakht'' (2004), ''Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat'' (2005), and ''Rocky - The Rebel'' (2006).<ref name="TOI2015">{{cite news |last=Maheshwri |first=Neha |date=6 October 2015 |title=Rajat Bedi: Life always felt incomplete being away from the film industry |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/rajat-bedi-life-always-felt-incomplete-being-away-from-the-film-industry/articleshow/49228299.cms |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. |language=en |agency=TNN}}</ref>
His television credits include: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Series !! Role !! Notes |- | 1993–1996 || ''Humrahi'' || || |- | 2002–2008 || ''Kasautii Zindagii Kay'' || || |- | 2006–2007 || ''Aahat'' || || |}
After facing limited opportunities in Bollywood, Bedi relocated to Vancouver, Canada, where he ventured into real estate but faced financial setbacks.<ref name="IndianExpress2025">{{cite news |author=Entertainment Desk |date=18 September 2025 |title=Ba***ds of Bollywood actor left the industry after his role was chopped off by Rakesh Roshan, became real estate developer in Canada but ‘lost it all’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rajat-bedi-bads-of-bollywood-actor-left-industry-after-rakesh-roshan-chopped-off-role-in-koi-mil-gaya-canada-real-estate-lost-it-all-10257040/ |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=Indian Express Group |location=New Delhi |language=en}}</ref> He returned to acting with roles in South Indian films, including the Tamil film ''Gajendra'' (2004), Kannada film ''Jaggu Dada'' (2016), and Telugu film ''Ahimsa'' (2023).<ref name="Hindu2004" /><ref name="Deccan2016">{{cite news |last=SM |first=Shashiprasad |date=10 June 2016 |title=Jaggu Dada movie review: This senseless commercial comedy encashes on stardom |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/110616/jaggu-dada-movie-review-encashes-on-stardom-in-this-senseless-commercial-comedy.html |access-date=11 October 2025 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> In 2025, he made a Hindi cinema comeback with a role as Jaraj Saxena in the Netflix series ''The Ba***ds of Bollywood'', directed by Aryan Khan, earning praise and expressing gratitude to Shah Rukh Khan for reviving his career.<ref name="TimesNow2025" /><ref name="Pinkvilla2024">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Rajat Bedi recalls how Shah Rukh Khan revived his career with Ba***ds of Bollywood; ‘I’m completely indebted to him’ |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/rajat-bedi-recalls-how-shah-rukh-khan-revived-his-career-with-bastards-of-bollywood-im-completely-indebted-to-him-1359123 |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Pinkvilla |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ZeeNews2024">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Rajat Bedi Makes Comeback With Aryan Khan’s Ba***ds of Bollywood, Thanks Shah Rukh Khan |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bollywood/rajat-bedi-makes-comeback-with-aryan-khan-s-bastards-of-bollywood-thanks-shah-rukh-khan-2833940.html |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>
=== Producer === With his sister Ila Bedi Dutta, Bedi co-produced the 2015 television series ''Lajwanti'', based on his grandfather’s book set during the Partition of India.<ref name="TOI2015">{{cite news |last=Maheshwri |first=Neha |date=6 October 2015 |title=Rajat Bedi: Life always felt incomplete being away from the film industry |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/rajat-bedi-life-always-felt-incomplete-being-away-from-the-film-industry/articleshow/49228299.cms |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. |language=en |agency=TNN}}</ref> In 2023, he co-produced and starred in the Punjabi comedy film ''Gol Gappe'', inspired by ''Hera Pheri''.<ref name="IndianExpress2025" /><ref name="Tribune2023">{{Cite news |date=25 February 2023 |title=Gol Gappe: A comedy of errors |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/gol-gappe-a-comedy-of-errors-482518 |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Bedi is married to Monalisa Bedi, sister of actress Tulip Joshi,<ref>{{cite web |last=Rajguru |first=Sumit |date=15 September 2025 |title=Lost Stars: Rajat Bedi – Bollywood's Classic Villain Set For Badass Comeback; Why Did He Vanish From Showbiz? |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/lost-stars-rajat-bedi-bollywood-classic-villain-set-for-badass-comeback-why-did-he-vanish-from-showbiz-article-152799259 |access-date=27 October 2025 |website=Times Now |publisher= |quote=Rajat is married to actress Tulip Joshi’s sister, Monalisa Bedi, and the couple has two children.}}</ref> and resided in Vancouver with their two children, Vivaan and Vera Bedi until July 2023, when they returned to Mumbai.<ref name="Pinkvilla2024" /><ref name="Moneycontrol2025" /> He has discussed his struggles with industry politics, including a fallout with Salman Khan over a shelved Rs 100 crore film project.<ref name="News182024">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Rajat Bedi Says Salman Khan Dropped Him From Rs 100 Cr Film Despite Promising Comeback |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/rajat-bedi-says-salman-khan-dropped-him-from-rs-100-cr-film-despite-promising-comeback-9049649.html |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> He also revealed how his father’s career was impacted by 1970s Bollywood rivalries between Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, leading to financial ruin and alcoholism.<ref name="IndianExpress2024" /><ref name="HT2024">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Rajat Bedi recalls how Rajesh Khanna-Amitabh Bachchan rivalry destroyed his father's career: ‘He’d wait for days with entire unit’ |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rajat-bedi-recalls-how-rajesh-khanna-amitabh-bachchan-rivalry-destroyed-his-father-s-career-101726929025566.html |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1995 || ''Karan Arjun'' || {{n/a}} || Body double<ref name="Moneycontrol2025" /> |- | 1998 || ''2001: Do Hazaar Ek'' || Inspector Rajat || |- | 1999 || ''International Khiladi'' || Amit || |- | rowspan="2" | 2001 || ''Jodi No.1'' || Tiger || Guest appearance |- | ''Indian'' || Sanjay Singhania || |- | rowspan="5" | 2002 || ''Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa'' || Vijay Varma || |- | ''Maa Tujhhe Salaam'' || Capt. Naseer Khan || Guest appearance |- | ''Ab Ke Baras'' || Rajbir Singhal || |- | ''Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani'' || Rajesh || |- | ''Chor Machaaye Shor'' || Tony || |- | rowspan="3" | 2003 || ''The Hero: Love Story of a Spy'' || Militant || |- | ''Border Hindustan Ka'' || Hari Singh || |- | ''Koi... Mil Gaya'' || Raj Saxena || Breakthrough role |- | rowspan="3" | 2004 || ''Woh Tera Naam Tha'' || Basharat Ali || |- | ''Rakht'' || ACP Ranbir Singh || |- | ''Gajendra'' || Chotta Babu || Tamil |- | rowspan="4" | 2005 || ''Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat'' || Varun || |- | ''Fun: Can Be Dangerous Sometimes'' || || |- | ''Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!'' || Punky || Special appearance |- | ''Bluffmaster!'' || || Special appearance<ref name="Moneycontrol2025" /> |- | rowspan="3" | 2006 || ''Aksar'' || Officer Steve Bakshi || |- | ''Rocky - The Rebel'' || Anthony D'Silva || |- | ''Hello? Kaun Hai!'' || Sanjeev || |- | rowspan="3" | 2007 || ''Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee'' || Rohit Kumar || |- | ''The Train'' || Officer Asif Ahmed Khan || Special appearance |- | ''Partner'' || Neil Bakshi || |- | 2008 || ''Lakh Pardesi Hoiye'' || Harry || Punjabi |- | 2012 || ''Monopoly the Game of Money'' || || |- | 2016 || ''Jaggu Dada'' || Don Subhash Bhai || Kannada |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 || ''Gol Gappe'' || Pali || Punjabi |- | ''Ahimsa'' || Dushtanth || Telugu |- | 2025 || ''The Ba***ds of Bollywood'' || Jaraj Saxena || Netflix Hindi series |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=nm0066040}} * {{Facebook|id=Rajatbedibollywood}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedi, Rajat}} Category:Living people Category:Punjabi people Category:Indian expatriates in Canada Category:Indian television producers Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema Category:Male actors in Kannada cinema Category:Male actors in Punjabi cinema Category:1974 births Category:Indian male models