Mandira Bedi started her acting career in the 1990s, and then, in the early 2000s, she was seen in the TV sector. Mandira was also a cricket presenter back during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. However, her journey in the same was not easy and was far from smooth. Mandira recently spoke her heart out about the challenges she had to go through as a cricket presenter and the sexism she faced from the legendary cricketers.
Mandira Bedi shares her first week as a cricket presenter
Mandira, on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s What Women Want , revealed that her first week as a cricket presenter was filled with difficulty. She said that the legends on the cricket panel used to ignore her questions and used to give answers that were not related. She used to feel disrespected by the same. In her words:
“One week went by with absolute hesitation, fumbles and mistakes. At the end of every show, I would put my head down and cry. The legends on either sides of me, I would ask them questions and they just stared at me. They turned to the camera and answered whatever the hell they wanted to answer.”
Mandira Bedi feels now there is a space for women in cricket
Going ahead in the interview, Mandira said that there is space for women in sports, and they get their due screen space. However, as she was the first one to do it, people looked at her with a magnifying glass. She felt scrutinized as they commented on her and told her she did not belong in the place. Mandira was judged for being a cricket presenter and discussing the sport, which is watched nationwide.
Mandira Bedi opens up on the pressure she faced as a cricket presenter
Mandira revealed that the channel she worked with had asked her to ask questions daily to attract new audiences. She said that during the first time it was tough as she was not easily accepted by the system. She felt that sitting with the cricket legends felt like reading a different language. In her words:
“But, the channel got me on board to ask the questions (on the common person’s mind). They wanted to get new viewers, and that’s what they got me on board for. It was a hard one to begin with, because there was It’s one thing when you are sitting on a panel and talking to legends, but with the cameras on you here. you have to speak their language.”
Mandira Bedi shared Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi treated her with a lot of respect
Mandira had then told Kareena Kapoor Khan that her father-in-law, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had given her a lot of respect during the 2003 World Cup. Mandira said that when people ask her about what was the best compliment she presented the World Cup back in 2003. Mandira said it was from Pataudi. In her words:
“He came down for the semi finals and finals. He was so respectful, kind and sweet. When he met me for the first time, he shook my hand and said, ‘So you are the Mandira Bedi everyone is talking about’. That made me feel so good and special.”
What do you think of Mandira Bedi’s struggles as a cricket presenter?
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