Indian actress-fashion designer-television presented Mandira Bedi gained recognition from playing the title role in television series ‘Shanti’ in the year 1994. In the years 2003 and 2006, she hosted the ICC Cricket World Cups, other than this she appeared in many Hindi television serials such as Aurat, Hello Friends, Dushman, Jassi Jassi Koi Nahin, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Mahabharat.
She also took part in several reality shows including Fame Gurukul, Deal Ya No Deal, Fear Factor India, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and I Can Do That.
While talking about her experience hosting the pre-matches Mandira opened up that she was looked down on by the cricketers and many of them would be like ‘What’s she even asking’ when she used to ask questions to them, she often felt like her questions were not answered t5he way she asked and were mostly diverted to the topic of her said question.
She said, “Nobody accepted me to begin with, certainly not the people sitting on the panel. I’m friends with all the ex-cricketers now who I worked with back then as well but they didn’t like that either. They didn’t like that there was a woman wearing a saree, dressed up, talking cricket. Nobody fed me any lines, nobody fed me any questions. I was there to represent the layperson who doesn’t know every technicality of cricket, who does not know every nuance of cricket.”
She further added, “I was told whatever question comes to your mind at that particular point of time if you’re thinking it ask it. I was given that freedom. Of course, I got stared down by a lot of the cricketers like- what’s she even asking, why is she even asking that. They answered whatever they wanted to answer nothing connected to my question and that can be very very intimidating but I kind of was assured by the channel, it was Sony, that backed me and chose me from 150-200 women. They said that we’ve chosen you with the reason we think you have what it takes to stay, so go ahead and be yourself and start enjoying yourself,”
Mandira Bedi was one of the first few women who ventured into hosting and commentary for cricket tournaments. She led the coverage of IPL 3 for ITV, a British Network. Recently she was seen hosting the show ‘Love Laugh Live Show’.
