August 21, 2025: From open marriage to spiritual disappearance, Pooja Bedi opens up on the untold story of her mother Protima Gauri’s extraordinary life and mysterious death
Protima Gauri was bold, she was brilliant, and she left the world on her own terms. Years after the untimely disappearance of renowned classical dancer and former model’s, daughter Pooja Bedi has opened up about her mother’s extraordinary life, and the deeply personal way she chose to say goodbye.
“She didn’t want the usual end. No crematorium, no ashes in the Ganga. She always said, ‘I want to die out in nature, to become one with it,’” Pooja Bedi recalled.
Inside Kabir Bedi’s Family: Protima & Pooja Bedi’s Secrets
Protima was married to actor Kabir Bedi in 1969, and their open marriage was far ahead of its time. Though their relationship eventually ended, her legacy of fierce independence continued through her passion for dance and the founding of Nrityagram, a dance village near Bengaluru.
But her personal life was shadowed by tragedy, including the loss of her son Siddhartha, who died by suicide in 1997 after battling schizophrenia. In her final days, Protima Gauri handed over all her possessions to Pooja and left behind a poignant 12-page letter detailing her life, her joys, her pain, and her peace.
“She told me, ‘You’re my only mooring now. Let me go.’ And I did,” Pooja said.
A Farewell Written in Nature
Protima’s letter from the Valley of the Gods, Kullu, ended on a note of deep contentment:
“I’m so very, very happy. May all the gods and goddesses know of my eternal gratitude.”
To this day, Pooja finds comfort in knowing her mother lived, and vanished, in the way she always wished. “She became one with the universe,” Pooja said. “And that’s exactly how she wanted it.”
A Legacy That Still Dances
Though her physical presence may have disappeared into the hills, Protima Gauri’s legacy continues to echo, through Nrityagram, through her children, and now, through the powerful memories Pooja continues to share.
This revelation came to limelight in a candid conversation with SCREEN, wherein Pooja Bedi shared emotional memories of Protima, not just as a mother, but as a woman who defied convention, even in death. Known for her free-spirited nature and unapologetic choices, Protima disappeared into the mountains of Kullu Manali decades ago. Her body was never found.