Actor Pooja Bedi recently opened up about her late mother, the iconic model-turned-classical dancer Protima Bedi, who lost her life in 1998 during a landslide at Kailash Mansarovar. Speaking in an interview with Subhash K Jha for SCREEN, Pooja revealed that her mother’s body was never found after the tragedy, something that aligned with her unique philosophy of life and death.
Pooja expressed regret that her mother passed away before turning 50, leaving behind many unfulfilled moments between them. However, she also acknowledged that Protima lived life entirely on her own terms and even died the way she had envisioned.
“She always said she wanted to die out in nature and be one with it. At the end of this glorious life, she didn’t want a mock ceremony in a crematorium. She wanted a grand finale, and that’s exactly how it happened. Her body was never found, it became one with the universe,” Pooja said.
Born in 1948, Protima was known for her bold spirit and groundbreaking choices. After a successful modelling career in the 1960s and her infamous 1974 Cineblitz launch streak at Juhu Beach, she devoted herself to Odissi dance. In 1990, she founded Nrityagram near Bengaluru, which became a hub for Indian classical dance. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of dancers and free thinkers.
