Angad Bedi, who shot to fame as an actor with the film Pink happens to be the son of former Test captain cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi. Recently Angad Bedi, who has made his foray as an actor with the web series Inside Edge tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he owes his position in life today to his father for the kind of upbringing he has had.
Tell me more about your web series Inside Edge?
Inside Edge is the first kind of Indian original drama series, Inside Edge, which seeks to capitalize on the country’s national sporting obsession, cricket.The series launched in July is being streamed on Prime Video worldwide in over 200 countries. Inside Edge follows the ups and downs of the fictional Mumbai Mavericks professional cricket team through a season of the Powerplay League, a fictional version of the lucrative Indian Premier League.
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The series set in a landscape of conflicting interests, where selfishness is almost a virtue, where sex, money and power are mere means to an end.” The series is executive produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar who head Excel Entertainment. Inside Edge is created by Karan Anshuman and stars besides me, also Vivek Oberoi, Richa Chadha, Sanjay Suri, Tanuj Virwani, Siddhanth Chaturvedi, Sarah Jane Dias and Amit Sial.
What exactly is your role in Inside Edge?
I play the role of Aravind Vashisht who is the captain of the cricket team Mumbai Mavericks which takes part in a tournament. Vashisht works hard at his relationship, whether it is personal or on the professional front and believes in leading a life of integrity, honesty. The web series has a plot which is about how his upbringing comes in between him and his relationships.
Is it true that you read material on M S Dhoni to prepare for your part?
Yes. To understand the character better in such a situation I decided to take to reading material on MS Dhoni, watched several of his interviews and cricket matches on YouTube. His character in the show is that of a positive role model who supports his team extensively, much like how Dhoni has been known for being extremely supportive for his own team. Dhoni led India to win many tournaments under tremendous pressure and taking inspiration from such a personality was surely fruitful for me as an actor and admirer of Dhoni.
Do you have memories of having met Dhoni earlier?
I remember when Dhoni first came to Delhi, our coach of National stadium (now known as Dhyanchand stadium) asked him ‘Aap kya karna chahte ho?’ Confidently he said ‘Sir main Bharat ka kaptaan banna chahta hoon’. He was humble but he was sure of his abilities and that I was drawn to the most. His head was very clear. And it showed in his leadership qualities even when he captained India with grace and dignity. I was keen to bring that grace and dignity in Arvind my character in Inside Edge.
Tell me more about Aravind!
Aravind is fighting with his own beliefs and also believes that cricket is God. Being the son of a cricketing legend like Bedi, I have a cricket background which helped me a great deal in playing the character of Aravind in Inside Edge. Though I have played the game with the likes of Yuvraj and Dhoni, I did not feel the need to represent the country as I wanted to try my hand at acting in films.
I made my debut in films with Remo D’souza’s film Faltu produced by Vashu Bhagnani.After Faltu, I was seen in Ungli.
Instead of taking up acting, did you not think of taking up playing for India as a cricketer?
My parents had concerns about me when I expressed my desire to join films but did not object to it when I decided to join films. I can never forget the values that my father has instilled in me. My father has taught me that for an actor clarity is something that is of paramount importance because if you think correctly, you can easily deliver.
Describe your journey till date?
My journey has been extremely tough. I knew that if I am not good at what I am doing, no one will be ready to believe in me at all. I believe that when you play sports, performance is important just as if you are an actor, the performance of your film at the box office is very important.
You are making a feature film on your dad Bishan Singh Bedi!
I am not making a feature film but a documentary on my father. Today it is thanks to my dad that I can fight today as I am mentally very strong since dad never mollycoddled me and even when I did not commit any mistake he used to punish me first. I grew up with a lot of hardships in spite of being his son because he wanted me to lead a normal life. It is important to thank your parents because it is because of the upbringing your parents that you are what you are in life.
Do you feel that there is a lot of similarity between playing cricket for the country and acting in films?
Yes. It is true in the sense that if you are good you will be there, whether you are playing cricket or acting in a film. If you do not perform well, you will vanish.
You had acted in films even before Pink catapulted you to fame. Isn’t it?
I made my debut in films as an actor with Remo D’souza’s Faltu produced by Vashu Bhagnani. After Faltu, I was seen in Ungli.Unfortunately though the scripts were great both the films did not connect with the masses and sank. I also acted in a double role in a Punjabi film called Rangeelay and Dear Zindagi with Alia Bhatt but till Pink was released, I could not at all consolidate myself career wise at the box office. Pink opened the doors for me as an actor. As an actor, I managed to get credibility and validation though it was not a positive role at all. It was a realistic role. In any case, Shoojitda makes realistic films and it does not matter whether you play a positive role in them or negative role. My part of Rajveer Singh grows up in a conservative household in a patriarchal family with a different mindset and is different and poles apart. I am glad that actors are lucky that such good writing is coming to the fore nowadays and good films like Pink are being made in large numbers.
You have also acted with the veteran actress Seema Biswas in a film. Tell me about it!
Yes. I acted with Seemaji in a film called Kaaya Taran, when I was too raw. It was a serious issue based film on the Sikh riots which happened in the aftermath of the assassination of our late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Before I acted in that film, I was only dreaming of acting in a film but after the film, I decided that I should take up a calling in acting. I wanted to be a prepared actor though I knew that it would be difficult since it is only age that makes you a mature actor.
How is Richa Chaddha as a co-actor? There are speculations that she is your Miss Right!
As an actress, Richa has great comedy timing. Right now, I am in the space where I enjoy work I am doing. My Miss Right should have the ability to be a home maker and have her values intact. Richa has great values and is very humble but I have only worked professionally with her. Richa is a fabulous actress and a great human being. Her upbringing is good. Since she has seen hardship in life, she has a tehrav in her performance. I am of the opinion that an actor becomes better only if he or she sees life at close quarters.
What next, after Inside Edge?
I am right now working in a film called Tiger Zinda Hai 2 which is being produced by Yashraj Films. It is the sequel to Tiger Zinda Hai. It is too early to talk about my role in the film in which Salman Khan is my co-actor. The film will be completed by September this year and slated for release very soon.
