Rajat Bedi Reveals How Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan’s Rivalry Impacted His Father Narendra Bedi

In a heartfelt revelation, actor Rajat Bedi recently spoke about his late father, Narendra Bedi, a renowned filmmaker known for classics like Jawani Diwani, Bandhan, and Maha Chor. Speaking on Aryan Khan‘s show The Ba**ds of Bollywood, Rajat shared how his father’s association with Rajesh Khanna and the superstar’s rivalry with Amitabh Bachchan severely affected both his career and personal life.

The Decline of Narendra Bedi’s Health

Recalling an emotional moment from his childhood, Rajat said, “He died right in front of my eyes. I was leaving for school when he came out of the room and collapsed. He had become an alcoholic, fell into depression, and was burdened with financial stress.” Rajat further explained that despite being a successful director, his father had to shoulder his grandfather’s film liabilities, which added to his struggles.

Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan Rivalry

Opening up about the professional setbacks caused by industry politics, Rajat revealed, “My dad was facing issues with Rajesh Khanna. They had started two or three films together, but Rajesh Khanna became upset because my father was also working with Amitabh Bachchan. After taking the film unit to Pune, Papa had to stop shooting when Rajesh didn’t turn up for 10–15 days. Such gaps caused huge losses.”

He added that during that era, leading actors often had big egos, and his father got caught in the crossfire of the Khanna-Bachchan rivalry. Rajat said, “There were some tensions between Rajesh Khanna and Papa, maybe because of Amitabh Bachchan or other reasons. But those clashes impacted my father’s career and finances deeply.”

A Lifestyle of Alcohol and Stress

Rajat also painted a painful picture of his father’s deteriorating lifestyle. “Rajesh Khanna and Papa used to drink together all night. Our house would always have alcohol boxes lying around. He started smoking heavily, chewing Pan Parag, and drinking excessively. Many times Rajesh Khanna would leave early morning, and Papa would continue drinking.”

His alcoholism even impacted his professional work. Rajat recalled, “During the shooting of Sanam Teri Kasam, he would start drinking in the morning. Kamal Ha