Role Call

It’s that of a producer for actor Rajat Bedi

Starpower helps. And godfathers are the levers to achieving it. After fumbling from one role to another,obliging big shots with guest appearances,giving in just to be in the game,actor Rajat Bedi decided it’s enough. “No more rubbish,” he changes gears,slows down and takes on something that’s in his blood – production. “My grandfather,late Rajender Singh Bedi,was a known writer and producer,so was my father….filmmaking is in my family,in my blood so why not use that,” Rajat’s already on to a Punjabi film with Canada-based producer Jatinder Minhas. “I am taking the Punjabi film industry very seriously,and moreover,people overseas want to find connect to their homeland,especially their children….what better than showing them that through cinema,” Rajat’s got his hands-ful with his grandfather’s stories,most of which are being sorted out by his writer sister Ela Bedi Dutta. “We are also into final negotiations regarding bollywood commercial flicks.” While Rajat’s mum on that one,Minhas jumps in and lets out the secret – “We are trying to finalise a five-film deal with Rajkumar Santoshi and very soon,sign Sunny Deol for one too. See,Deols are a huge hit with the NRIs,” he says.

With the recession creeping in,is it the right time to invest? “Of course,in fact,it’s the time for now corporates who had tilted the balance in favour of the stars by paying them obscene amounts of money is no longer there. It’s a comeback for the small independent filmmaker and realistic budgets. Everyone’s realised that paying astronomically high sums of money was futile,” Rajat’s pretty kicked about the whole thing. On the acting front,he has films like The Hope,Monopoly and two untitled ones in his kitty,but he agrees that survival in tinsel town sans a fairy godfather is difficult. “Behind every successful actor is a solid support system which I didn’t have. Look at Abhishek or Fardeen or even Emraan Hashmi,they are hits despite everything. They keep getting chances,whereas we have to work! I sometimes regret losing my father and grandfather too early…” he feels. But right now,it’s back to Elegant Productions. “Work can’t wait,and I have to entertain! he waves goodbye.