Mandira Bedi Recollects Being Criticised For Hosting Cricket Matches: 'I Was Not Allowed To...'

Mandira Bedia has come a long way in showbiz, with her contribution in the entertainment industry. She was also a prominent member of the sports industry, especially when she was appointed as the first female cricket presenter in 2003. However, the actress recently revealed that, due to her anchoring gigs, people forgot that she is an actor too. She was also told to stay from social media to avoid negativity for her anchoring job.

In an interview with Curly Tales, Mandir shared that she got the anchoring gig by being at the ‘right place at the right time.’ However, the actress shared, that she was heavily criticised for becoming a sports presentor.

Recollecting those days, she shared, “We didn’t have social media where you could see people’s comments at that time. We did have internet, but not like now. Sony kept me away from all this. They said, ‘You are not allowed to know what people are saying’. They shut all that out for me. What I did learn from the cricket time is that there’ll be people who like you in life and then there will be people in life who won’t like you. So the ones who like you, be grateful about them and the ones who don’t, don’t try and please them.”

She also opened up on her journey in the world of sports and shared, “In 2002, India beat England and made it to semi-finals of a tournament called the Champions Trophy… Now, because I love cricket, I decided to travel to Sri Lanka to watch the match. So, I booked a ticket for myself and reached there…”

Mandira then also revealed that, while she gained popularity as a host, to lost out on acting offers. She shared that, she was getting back to back offers for anchoring jobs and MC jobs, as everybody forgot that she was an actor. She recollected telling people “you have forgotten, but I know acting, I am an actor. I started my career as an actor”.

Mandira Bedi made her acting debut with the television show Shanti (1994-1998). She then bagged her first Bollywood film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge that starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles. She then went to star in several commercial films including Dus Kahaniyaan, Ittefaq and Saaho.