“My life is an open book,” states Kiran Bedi, the country’s first and highest-ranking woman police officer, as she reflects on her extensive career and life experiences. “But there are also many hidden stories that define me, my work, my life,” she smiles. These untold stories and unseen challenges and triumphs of the formidable cop are set to be unveiled on the big screen through the biopic The Name You Know, The Story You Don’t. This ambitious project helmed by award-winning director Kushaal Chawla, known for his critically acclaimed films One Way and Another Time, marks yet another significant cinematic endeavor.
According to Chawla, the project, with its script-ready, is entering the pre-production phase. He aims to release the film in 2025, a year that holds special significance as it coincides with the United Nations’ 50th International Women’s Year (IWY). “Things happen on their own,” Bedi reminisces during an interview on the biopic’s announcement in Delhi. “In 1975, when the UN declared the year as IWY, I was assigned to my first posting at the Chandni Chowk subdivision and was chosen to lead an all-male contingent of the Delhi Police at the Republic Day parade. And now, my biopic is aiming for a release in its golden jubilee year!”
Bedi’s journey from being a celebrated tennis player to breaking barriers in a male-dominated police force to her tenure as the Governor of Puducherry has not been short of inspiration. During her term as Governor from 2016 to 2021, she received several offers for a biopic based on her life. “I kept refusing them, but it clicked with Kushaal; he had extensively researched my life for four-and-a-half years and waited for me to get free from my government duty,” says Bedi. She believes the timing for the biopic is now perfect, viewing it as a natural progression of her life’s phases.
Chawla considers it a privilege to write and direct a full-length feature film on a figure like Kiran Bedi. “The story is not just my story, but of every woman who represents Indianness and propels herself and the country to greater heights,” emphasizes Bedi. The prolific director aims to make a film that authentically portrays the emotional arc of the personal and professional struggles Bedi faced, including the sacrifices she made in public duty.
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Bedi, who turned 75 on June 9, remains intrigued about who would portray her on screen. “People would be eager to see who their Kiran Bedi is because the image is etched in everybody’s mind; the portrayal has to be impactful,” she laughs. Chawla echoes this sentiment, acknowledging the immense responsibility it entails. “I am creating a sincere film that captures the essence of Kiran Ma’am’s challenges and her resilience to succeed. The actor chosen will genuinely embody her self-discipline and determination,” he asserts, though he remains tight-lipped about the casting choices.
A recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her innovative reforms, Bedi navigated the male-dominated field of policing for 35 years. She believes in cinema’s ability to connect with audiences and offer a deeper understanding of her journey. “From childhood, my parents instilled in me the values of giving, turning situations around positively, fearing God, and being grateful to those who support me,” she shares, explaining her bold and outspoken stances in various roles, be it as a police officer, a politician, or a social activist.
Reflecting on her varied career, Bedi recounts her tenure as DCP (Traffic) during the 1982 Delhi Asian Games, where her stringent traffic regulations did not even spare the elite, earning her the nickname “Crane Bedi” for towing away wrongly parked vehicles. Notably, she even had a car belonging to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s office towed away for wrong parking.
Always known for breaking barriers, whether through innovative law enforcement techniques or social reforms at Tihar jail as Inspector General (Prisons), Bedi feels her leadership, indomitable spirit, and commitment to equality and justice do most of the talking. She humbly acknowledges that while a film is not necessary to secure her legacy, the biopic is a divine blessing. She believes Kushaal’s creative force will honor her parents’ sacrifices and immortalize their contribution to shaping her.
As the slated release date approaches, anticipation builds around the film that promises to reveal the untold stories of Kiran Bedi, a woman who has profoundly impacted Indian society and continues to inspire future generations.
