MUMBAI: Kabir Bedi will be knighted by the Italian government, bestowing on him the honor of Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order Al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.

The Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, instituted in 1951, is the highest ranking civilian honor of the Italian Republic.

Bedi’s association with Italy goes back to 1976 with the enormous success of a TV Series Sandokan, the saga of a freedom fighting Asian pirate during British colonial times who falls in
love with an English girl. The series broke viewership records across Europe, and made Bedi a household name internationally. Since then he has also starred in many other Italian TV
series and films.

The Italian Ambassador will bestow the honor on Bedi at a special ceremony, organised by the Italian Consul General in Mumbai Giampaolo Cutillo, in  December.