Pooja Bedi: From Bollywood Lights to Healing Souls, My Journey Is About Living Boldly (Bollywood Celebrity)

Pooja Bedi Interview

"Reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about shedding the parts of you that no longer serve you."

1. You’ve worn many hats—actor, columnist, speaker, and now wellness entrepreneur. What has your journey of reinvention taught you most?

I truly walk my talk. Reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about shedding the parts of yourself that no longer serve you. Every chapter of my life, from the bright lights of cinema to the corporate world to my role as a life coach, has been about peeling away layers and stepping into a more authentic version of myself.

Reinvention has taught me that flexibility is strength. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you take the leap. All you need is the courage to start, the humility to learn, and the audacity to evolve—even if that happens in full view of the public eye.

The skill sets you gather along the way—storytelling, empathy, resilience—don’t get left behind. They weave into each new venture, turning every reinvention into a journey from strength to strength.

2. Looking back, was there a defining moment that shaped your personal or professional direction?

There wasn’t one dramatic “aha” moment—it was a series of deeply human experiences. Losing my mother and brother at a young age, going through heartbreak and divorce, raising children as a single mother, and rebuilding my life from scratch—each dismantled me and then rebuilt me stronger.

Through it all, I realized that happiness isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation of everything else. Only when your own well is full can others drink from it. Shifting from performing for the world’s applause to designing a life aligned with my purpose didn’t just shape my career path—it became my career path.

3. You’ve always advocated for open conversations around mental health and self-discovery. What drives this passion?

Part of it comes from lived experience. I lost my brother to suicide—he was diagnosed with schizophrenia—and I’ve known many others who struggle with mental illness and mental health challenges. There’s a big difference between the two.

I’ve seen how people carry fractures, confusion, and exhaustion without ever addressing or healing them. Our brain makes up just 2% of our body mass yet consumes over 20% of our resting energy. Add the constant noise of consumerism and social media—28 open tabs in the mind, not just on your computer—and it becomes overwhelming.

I’ve been there too—facing loss, transitions, and public scrutiny. But I’ve also experienced the freedom that comes from speaking openly, sharing resources, and empowering each other.

Mental health is not a side conversation; it is life. Silence breeds shame, inertia, and overwhelm. By speaking up, we dismantle stigma.

As for self-discovery, it’s the ultimate adventure. We spend so much time mapping the outside world that we forget the vast universe within. Helping people navigate that inner journey is the most rewarding adventure of all.

4. As a public figure and single mom, what challenges did you face balancing personal and professional life?

Some days felt like starring in a one-woman circus—juggling deadlines, homework, media commitments, and the occasional existential crisis. The real challenge wasn’t just doing it all, but doing it without losing myself, while keeping my energy and positivity intact.

I never aimed for “Pinterest-perfect.” It was always about creating a life in tune with my evolving self and refusing to stay stuck in versions of me that no longer fit.

Humor was my secret weapon. When you can laugh at the chaos, it loses its grip. And when you can laugh at yourself, the journey becomes infinitely more fun.

5. What advice would you offer women who want to live unapologetically?

Stop asking for permission to be yourself—the world will adjust.

We’ve been conditioned to shrink: to be agreeable, palatable, and “not too much.” But often, your “too much” is exactly the inspiration someone else needs.

I’ve been deeply inspired by women like my mother, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, and my grandmother, Freda Bedi. Living unapologetically doesn’t mean being reckless—it means living in alignment with your purpose. Sometimes it may inconvenience others, but staying inauthentic often causes more harm than good.

And never forget—boundaries are the ultimate form of self-care. Saying “no” to others often means saying “yes” to yourself.

6. Tell us about your wellness initiatives and how they reflect your core beliefs.

My ventures—Happy Soul, Magicians of Wellness, Merchants of Wellness, and Outer Soul (a luxury wellness-focused home project)—all stem from one central belief: true well-being is multi-dimensional.

I define wellness through eight pillars: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, environmental, financial, sexual, and social. We create accessibility to resources, spaces, and products that merge wellness with soul. From NLP and mindset reprogramming courses to retreats, from biophilic healing spaces to corporate programs that boost productivity and joy, everything is designed to make wellness as accessible and aspirational as a smartphone.

Essentially, I’m building the platforms I once wished existed during my own journey of transformation.

7. What does success mean to you today, and what are your goals for the future?

Today, success is about alignment, not accolades. It’s waking up excited for the day, knowing that my work uplifts others while also nourishing me.

In the years ahead, I want to expand my wellness ecosystem globally—creating flagship experiential centers, wellness metaverses, AI-driven wellness tools, and partnerships that bring holistic living into mainstream culture.

On a personal note, I’d like to write more, host transformational retreats, and continue deepening my own learning. Because in this journey, you never really “arrive”—you just keep evolving into more of who you’re meant to be.

Bio:

Pooja Bedi is a celebrated and award-winning wellness entrepreneur, life coach, and former film and television personality whose journey of reinvention has inspired millions. As the founder of Happy Soul and Managing Director of Magicians of Wellness and Merchants of Wellness, she blends science, spirituality, and storytelling to transform lives. With a career spanning entertainment, journalism, and global wellness leadership, she champions living boldly, joyfully, and unapologetically.

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Interviewed by: Gurbani Kaur 

Edited by: Shantanu Singh