August 21, 2025: Kabir Bedi’s first marriage, to the iconic model-turned-dancer Protima Gauri in 1969, was unconventional for its time. The couple practiced an open marriage, a rare concept then, raising two children, Pooja and Siddhartha, before parting ways in 1977. Decades later, Pooja Bedi has shared intimate details about her mother’s extraordinary life and poignant final chapter.
Protima Gauri was celebrated not only for her artistry but also for her fearless independence. In a recent interview with SCREEN, Pooja recalled how her mother lived, and ultimately died, on her own terms. Protima passed away in the mountains of Kullu Manali, her body never recovered, symbolizing a profound reunion with nature.
“There are so many regrets about her leaving the planet before she even turned 50,” Pooja confessed. “But she was a woman who lived life on her terms. She literally died the way she wanted out in nature, becoming one with the earth.”
Protima Bedi had made her wishes clear long before her passing. Rejecting traditional farewells and ceremonies, she desired no cremation or ritualistic scattering of ashes in the Ganga. Instead, she embraced the vastness of the natural world as her final resting place.
Pooja revealed that her mother seemed prepared for the end, having written her will, handed over valuables, and entrusted Pooja with the responsibility of letting her go. “She said, ‘You never know,’ and handed me everything she possessed,” Pooja shared. “She had faced immense loss, including the tragic suicide of my brother Siddhartha.”
Siddhartha’s death in 1997, after battling schizophrenia, remains a dark chapter for the Bedi family. Kabir Bedi opened up about the pain in his memoir Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life Of An Actor, revealing the emotional and financial turmoil that followed. Despite these hardships, Pooja reflects on Protima Bedi ’s final message, a 12-page letter from Kullu expressing gratitude and peace.
“She wrote about her life journey, her childhood, relationships, dance, and where she was before her death. She ended by saying, ‘I’m in Kullu, the Valley of the Gods. May all the gods and goddesses know of my eternal gratitude. I’m happy. I’m so very, very happy.’ That was the last we heard from her,” Pooja said.
Protima Gauri’s story is one of artistry, rebellion, and a profound connection to nature, an inspiration to live authentically and embrace life’s final mystery without fear.
