'The Ba***ds of Bollywood' actor Rajat Bedi reveals what he would like to tell his younger self
Mumbai, June 24
Actor Rajat Bedi, who is celebrating his birthday on Wednesday, has shared the advice that he would like to give to his younger self.
The actor spoke with IANS on the special occasion, and said that he would like to tell his younger self to trust his own judgement.
He told IANS, "If I want to give advice to my younger self, then never listen to what people say. Always listen to your heart. I was lost in people's talks. And I used to disappoint myself a lot. Which I will never do in the future. What my heart will say, I will do that. I will listen to my heart".
He also spoke about the actor with whom he enjoyed working with the most, as he shared, "I have worked with many artists. But the one whom I love the most is Sanjay Dutt. Whenever I work with him. Because he is an artist with a very pure heart. Salman Bhai, Sunil Shetty, Akshay Kumar. But, Baba has always been very special to me".
The actor further mentioned that social media has taken away the private life of actors as they increasingly are being subjected to public scrutiny.
He went on, "Yes, because of the awareness of social media. And every person is connected to social media. So I would say yes, the privacy of celebrities has become very less because whatever celebrities do, it is directly or indirectly covered on social media. And goes to the audience. In a way, it's very good also. The audience gets a glimpse of their life. Otherwise, sometimes it gets over. But it's okay. I haven't lived without it either. If there is social media, then there are artistes. And they look good too. It has a lot of positives too".
He also urged his fans to focus on their health, and eat clean, as he said, "I would like to give this message that come what may, health comes first. Please exercise regularly. Be diet conscious. Party. I don't forbid you to party. I am sure everyone loves indulging in drinks and partying and celebrating. But definitely look after your health. That is your priority over work".
When asked if networking and visibility are more important than talent in Bollywood, he said, "No, I think it's a balance of both. It is also necessary to do networking. It is also necessary to take visibility. But the most important thing is your art".
"It is also necessary for you to work on your art. It is necessary to practice because eventually your art will speak. Your social media can't judge you. The people who will judge you will judge you on your art", he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's refreshing to see an actor speak so candidly about the pressures of social media. He's right—privacy is a thing of the past for celebrities, but it also brings them closer to fans. As someone who follows Bollywood, I appreciate when stars share glimpses of their real lives. However, I wish he had elaborated more on the networking vs talent debate. In today's Bollywood, we see so many newcomers with connections getting opportunities over genuinely talented actors. Rajat hits the nail on the head when he says art should eventually speak, but sadly, many talented people never get that chance. 😕
Bhai, what a mature take on life! "Health comes first" is the message we all need in this chai-samosa and late-night work culture. Many of us in our 20s and 30s ignore our fitness for career growth, and then repent later. Rajat Bedi's advice about listening to your heart but also balancing it with art and networking is pure gold. Also, Sanjay Dutt is indeed a legend with a heart of gold—even though he's been through so much, he remains everyone's favourite Baba. Happy birthday to the man! 🎂
While I appreciate Rajat's positivity, I feel he's being a bit too generous about social media. Yes, it connects fans, but the trolling and toxicity that actors face today is unreal. Privacy is completely gone. Even a casual outing becomes news. That said, his point about focusing on your art is spot on. In an industry where connections matter more than craft, it's good to hear someone say that talent will eventually be recognized. But let's be honest—how many struggling artists get that chance? The system needs to change. Still, kudos to him for keeping it real. 👏
I love how Rajat Bedi doesn't try to be a philosopher but just speaks from his heart. The bit about
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.