From Screen To Pitch, Mandira Bedi Redefined Success On Her Own Terms

Mandira Bedi, an actor, anchor, and fitness enthusiast, has been an inspiration for many women because of her unapologetic ways. Bedi has always risen above the glass ceiling that society placed to limit women. The actor was born in Kolkata to parents Verinder Singh and Gita Bedi. The firebrand actor made her debut in 1994 with the television serial Shanti. She rose to fame with her first-ever television serial and then appeared in several serials like Aurat, Dushman and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Simultaneously, she also appeared in films and appeared in many films including Yashraj Chopra’s landmark film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. 

How Mandira Bedi Redefined Success on Her Own Terms

Bedi, in 2003, was roped in by a major channel to host cricket tournaments which added a new feather to her cap. Mandira appeared as an anchor for ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003 and 2007, the Champions Trophies in 2004 and 2006 and then hosted Indian Premier League Season 2. She was one of the first few women who hosted cricket tournaments on television.

Speaking about her journey, she mentioned in an interview how she was stared down at initially. “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,” she spoke about the way she was treated.

She then added, “Nobody fed me any lines, nobody fed me any questions. I was there to represent the laymen who didn't know every technicality of cricket, every nuance of cricket.”

Mandira Bedi has paved the way ahead for women. The actor who was married to the late filmmaker Raj Kaushal has sported short hair for a long time now. She spoke in an interview about how she was stereotyped and offered roles of either a police officer or a negative character because of her short hair. “I like short hair and I’ll keep it as long as I want and if something comes up to me that is required to grow them, I’ll think about that,” she said.

However, she always took these challenges with a pinch of salt. “There have been many challenges, the downs have been challenging, there have been difficult times. But the public memory is short. You are known for the last project you have done. By God’s grace, I have had a lot of work behind me. The ups are wonderful. When you are experiencing them, they are great.”, she said.

The actor was married to her husband Raj Kaushal from 1999 until his sudden demise in June last year. The couple had a son together Vir (10) in 2011 and two years later applied for adoption. The couple adopted their daughter Tara Bedi Kaushal (five) in July 2020. Bedi in her interview after Kaushal's passing mentioned that her children are her biggest strength and the driving force for her to become a better person. She has been investing all her energies in ensuring that she becomes a good parent to her two children who mean the world to her.

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