Four years ago, actors Rakesh Bedi and Anupam Kher took a break from a shoot in Manali. And when they got talking Kher exclaimed, “I want to act in a play,” to which Bedi simply replied, “Mera woh matlab nahi tha (That wasn’t what I meant).”
Confused the Saaransh actor repeated again, “I just want to act in a play...,” and Bedi had the same reply. “It was only after a few minutes that I told Anupam that I was referring to the name of my play and Anupam readily agreed to do it,” Bedi says with a laugh.
Four years after that conversation, Bedi, Anupam and Neena Gupta got together and now, after seven months and over 50 shows of Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha, Bedi admits they still have a long way to go. “Reactions have been phenomenal. Since the play is about two lovers who meet after many years... their memories, anecdotes... both funny and sad... it struck a chord with the audience,” he says.
The story of Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha was written nine years ago. “I wanted strong actors, people who knew about theatre and Anupam and Neena were perfect. Hema Roy, the lead role in the play, needed a strong, progressive woman to portray her and Neena was the perfect choice,” says Bedi.
Rakesh Bedi, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta
There were a few disagreements too. “Neena had her own thoughts about a few lines... but we met mid-way and so we were able to deliver a great performance,” says Bedi who plays Kapoor Saab, Kher’s nosy neighbour. A master of all trades, Bedi has always seamlessly switched between TV, theatre, films and writing. “When I hit the theatre scene, 35 years ago, all kinds of people told me I wouldn’t be able to manage all of this, but look at me... I am one of the few actors who has managed to work in so many places. And there hasn’t been a month in those 35 years where I have not been on stage screaming lines,” he says.
There are few memories though, of a time when things could have taken a different turn.
“Many years ago, I was writing this mining exam. The test had three parts to each question — Part A, B and C. But from a total of 39 questions, I knew the answer to just one part of question 7. After answering that, I left the hall, becoming the fastest person to finish that test. On my way out the invigilator was surprised and so I said, ‘Boss, yeh mera scene nahi hai. Mera theatre practice wait kar raha hai’.”
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