Pooja Bedi on walking out of marriage without alimony: ‘Had nothing when I left, in two years I was driving same Mercedes as my ex husband’

“Where there is a will, there is a way. I know that I don’t want to be in a marriage, that is a definite thing, now I need to find solutions. Problems are plenty, the husband feels you are the perfect wife, why will I let you go, but I said, ‘Hello! This is not a perfect marriage and maybe you are not a good husband, I want to go.’ He said no, if I give you money, then for sure you will leave, which I don’t want. I was in a  fix, because I just didn’t want to be in that marriage.

“Back in the day, even the court systems were different, laws were different, women’s rights movement wasn’t so active the way it is today. So, I asked myself what I want– do I want to go to court and fight him, demanding money. Because it isn’t like I left my career for him, I also made his career with him. Furniturewala was started by us, we launched it together. Production, delivery, marketing client handling, I would do it with him. I was a part of his company, but not legally. I had built it with my hard work also, but legally my name wasn’t there, so what do I do. I thought if I go to court and fight it out, there will be bitterness, the kids will suffer as well.”

The actor said she realised that the situation demanded that the two remain best friends for the sake of their children, but the possibility of an uncertain future was looming large. She said, “Unhone mujhe bohot daraya (he scared me a lot), that I only know the film industry, which has also changed a lot, younger actresses have come in and I have to kids, so who will cast me in films, how will I survive. I got more tensed.

“Of course, it is difficult, it is not easy. My mother had passed away and she had left a small amount of money for me as inheritance. I started from scratch at 18 and became successful, so I had the will that I could do it again. So what if I am a divorcee, have two children, I want to be happy, and the universe will definitely help me and I left.”

Pooja Bedi said she then started writing weekly columns, for which she would earn Rs 16,000 per month and was happy. That column led her to an offer to host a talk show and like a domino effect, her transformation began.

“Then modelling contract happened, then I started becoming a brand ambassador, began hosting events. Within one and a half years, I was driving the same Mercedes that my husband had. Within two years, he called me asking for loan, as he wanted to expand his business,” she added.