Despite making appearances in notable roles in a slew of films in the 2000s, Rajat Bedi never managed to rise to prominence, secure bigger parts, or become a star who cannot be ignored. By the middle of that decade, opportunities dried up for him, and he went without work for years. Eventually, he bid adieu to cinema and moved to Canada to find a new livelihood. However, Rajat returned to India recently and appeared in a few regional films before catching the eyes of audiences yet again with his performance in Aryan Khan's The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Rajat Bedi's career is, in a way, a testament that nepotism doesn't work the same way for all the star kids. Despite being the son of director-producer Narendra Bedi and the grandson of legendary writer-director Rajinder Singh Bedi, Rajat found little success in cinema for most parts of his career. During a recent interview, he revealed that no industry insiders even looked back at him and his family following the untimely demise of his father. "I was nine years old when I lost my father. He was 45. I remember vividly that no one from the industry looked back at us, except for director Prakash Mehra and his family. For about six months to a year after Papa's death, Prakash-ji sent money to our house, telling my mother, 'Bhabhi, don't worry.' My mother has been a housewife her entire life. She hasn't done anything besides bringing three children up on her own. Besides Prakash-ji, no one else looked back. It's a very unforgiving industry," he shared during a conversation with Siddharth Kannan. 'Was pretty close with Shah Rukh Khan when I was 18' Rajat Bedi further revealed that his grandfather also passed away two years later. "After that, we were out of the industry until I wanted to start working. One day, Mom asked me what I wanted to do. I was lost. She asked me to assist Ramesh Sippy. She went and spoke to him, and he agreed immediately. I was 18 when I joined him and worked on the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Zamaana Deewana with him. I was pretty close with SRK at that time, and we worked together for about two and a half years during the production of Zamaana Deewana. He used to call me 'Tiger' because I was this aggressive guy, and also because there were two Rajats on set." Recalling Shah Rukh Khan's sweet gesture during a private screening of The Ba***ds of Bollywood's trailer, he said, "I remember going to his house for the preview. It was an extended trailer, so he had invited some close people. Before the screening, he made a little speech about the show. He spoke about me as well, mentioning, 'And Tiger is also a part of this.' I was (stunned) that he still remembered that name. He doesn't forget anything." Rajat Bedi is known for his performances in movies like 2001: Do Hazaar Ek, International Khiladi, Indian, Koi. Mil Gaya, Rakht, Khamoshh. Khauff Ki Raat and Rocky - The Rebel.
