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Mandira Bedi started her career in television shows and films. She got the opportunity to become an anchor for the 2003 Cricket World Cup after meeting a channel’s executives and expressing her love for cricket. However, the experience wasn’t all positive.
In a recent interview, she shared how she got the role and why the channel advised her not to read comments about herself online. In 2002, after India reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, Mandira Bedi bought a ticket to Sri Lanka to watch the match. While at the match, a channel’s executives noticed her and wondered why she had purchased a ticket to attend, as they were flying in celebrities to watch the game.
In an interview with Curly Tales earlier this year, Mandira revealed that at the time, the channel was bringing in celebrities to watch cricket, while Mandira Bedi bought her own ticket to attend. She later shared that the network remembered her as someone with a genuine love for the sport.She further explained that when the channel needed a female anchor for the 2003 World Cup, they called her unexpectedly. Upon arriving, she was bombarded with cricket-related questions by 10 people. When asked if she would be interested in hosting, she eagerly agreed. However, the process wasn’t that simple, as she had to go through three auditions, competing with over a thousand other women for the role.
Bedi got the role, but her transition to TV hosting wasn’t easy. At the time, there was no social media like today, though the internet existed. The channel made sure she was kept away from public comments, telling her she wasn’t allowed to know what people were saying, shielding her from the negativity.
Despite the challenges, Mandira learned an important lesson from her cricket experience. She realized that in life, some people will like you while others won’t. She advised being grateful for those who support you and not trying to please those who don’t.
Earlier in an interview with Humans Of Bombay, the actress also talked about being ignored by cricketers during the show and facing sexism, as they dismissed her questions. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, she mentioned that it was difficult because it was the first time a woman had been on the panel. The cricket legends sitting beside her weren’t particularly thrilled about having a woman there.
Mandira also remembered crying during the first week of the show. She shared that she would often put her head down and cry while people sitting next to her casually asked if she wanted coffee and left. She felt miserable, with no support during her nervous and stumbling moments. Her co-host, however, had his questions acknowledged.
Eventually, the show’s producers stepped in, advising Mandira Bedi to be more assertive with her questions and make the “boring” cricket panel discussions more engaging. Following their guidance, she gained confidence, and the experience became much more enjoyable for her.
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