Pooja Bedi is an Indian actress, television presenter, relationship columnist, and wellness entrepreneur born on 11 May 1970 in Bombay (now Mumbai). She is the daughter of the iconic Bollywood actor Kabir Bedi (of Punjabi Sikh and British English descent) and the late classical Odissi dancer and activist Protima Bedi (of Bengali and Haryanvi descent). Her grandmother on her father's side was Freda Bedi, a noted British-born Buddhist nun. She attended Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh. Her daughter Alaya F (Alaia Furniturewala, born 2001) is a successful Bollywood actress. She grew up in what she describes as a 'bohemian progressive artistic environment' that shaped her liberal outlook. She made her film debut in Aashiqi Teri Mujhe Diwana Kar Gai (1991) and immediately generated national controversy through her bold appearance in a KamaSutra condom advertisement (1991) directed by Prahlad Kakkar — one of India's first mainstream condom ads — which challenged conservative social norms and established her as a provocateur. She appeared in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Vishkanya (1991), and the crime-thriller Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (1993). After a break from films, she returned with Cabaret (2019). She hosted the talk show Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love for Star World and later wrote a popular relationship advice column. She appeared in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Nach Baliye (Season 1, 2005) as a celebrity contestant and participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 2. She entered a post-show relationship with Bigg Boss 5 co-contestant Akashdeep Saigal (Sky), which lasted several years before ending. She was previously married to Farhan Furniturewala (married 1994, divorced 2003). In October 2011, she entered Bigg Boss 5 on Colors TV. She was eliminated in Week 8 (Day 55), finishing ninth.

Her Bollywood debut in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992); her landmark appearance in the provocative KamaSutra condom advertisement (1991) which challenged Indian social norms; the Bollywood films Vishkanya (1991), Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (1993), and Cabaret (2019); being the daughter of legendary actor Kabir Bedi and dancer-activist Protima Bedi; being the mother of actress Alaya F (Alaia Furniturewala); finishing ninth in Bigg Boss 5 (Colors TV, 2011–12).

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