Shilpa Shetty To Play Protima Bedi in an Indo-Chinese Venture

The bold and the beautiful

Shilpa Shetty has been signed up to play Protima Bedi, the late model-cum-Odissi danseuse, for an Indo-Chinese venture

Shilpa Shetty is all set to play the most challenging role of her career - the late Protima Bedi, an Odissi danseuse-cum-model. The film is an Indo-Chinese production which is taking shape secretly behind closed doors. According to sources, Shilpa was the first and the only natural choice to play Protima Bedi. A source said, “In terms of body language and facial resemblance, Shilpa came closest to Protima Bedi. Also the people behind the project felt that Shilpa has tremendous untapped potential and hence was apt to play the role.” Protima was Kabir Bedi’s first wife and Pooja Bedi and Siddharth’s mother. Considering the challenge in portraying Protima Bedi, who led a colourful and rebellious life, Shilpa has already begun preparation for the part. We hear that she has been secretly learning the classical dance form of Orissa, Odissi, from one of Protima Bedi’s teachers and is also reading up extensively on the lady, who died prematurely at the age of 40.


The film is in English and directed by the award-winning Malayalam director, Sarath Kumar. It will be shot in Kuala Lumpur, Kerala, Bangalore and Nrityagram — Protima’s dance academy on the outskirts of Bangalore, in December.