Mandira Bedi, an actor and TV presenter, has spoken out about being ‘stared down’ by several players when she used to host pre-match events at tournaments a few years ago. Mandira claimed in a recent interview that she was made to feel out of place. She also admitted to feeling frightened at times, but that the channel that hired her urged her to bring a fresh perspective.

In 2003 and 2007, the 49-year-old served as a TV anchor for the ICC Cricket World Cups, the Champions Trophies in 2004 and 2006, and the Indian Premier League Season 2. She was one of the first few female hosts of television cricket tournaments.

“I was told whatever question comes to mind at that precise point in time, if you’re thinking it, ask it,” Mandira stated in an interview with Pinkvilla. “That freedom was given to me. Of course, a lot of the cricketers looked at me, as if to say, ‘What is she even asking, why is she even asking that?’ They answered whatever they wanted to answer, which was nothing related to my topic, and this may be quite intimidating, but I was comforted by the fact that the channel, Sony, backed me and chose me from a pool of 150-200 women. They replied, ‘We chose you because we believe you have what it takes to stay, so go ahead and be yourself and start enjoying yourself.”

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The Shanti actor also discussed her difficulties in breaking into a cricket niche circuit. “Nobody accepted me to begin with,” she remarked, “definitely not the individuals on the panel.” 

‘I’m still friends with all of the ex-cricketers I worked with back then, but they didn’t enjoy it. They didn’t like the fact that there was a woman dressed up in a saree talking cricket. Nobody gave me any lines or questions to answer. I was there to represent the layperson who doesn’t understand every technical aspect of cricket and doesn’t understand every nuance.”

Raj Kaushal, Mandira’s filmmaker husband, died in June of last year. She has two children, a ten-year-old son named Vir and a daughter named Tara (five). Mandira has appeared in movies, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and the anthology Dus Kahaniyaan, as well as television dramas like Shanti, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and 24. On Romedy NOW, she recently hosted The Love Laugh Live Show.