‘I used to cry every day…’ Mandira Bedi’s pain spilled out after 21 years, she was insulted in the world of cricket

Mandira Bedi is a well-known actress and host. She started her career as an actress in the 1990s. Then she came to TV in the 2000s. he/she was appointed as the host during the World Cup in 2003. However, his/her experience was not good in the beginning. Mandira has revealed this in the episode of her show ‘What Women Want’ with Kareena Kapoor Khan. Mandira Bedi told how she had to face gender discrimination from the cricket greats. he/she said, ‘Now there is a place for women in cricket or sports telecast. But when you are the first person to do this, people look at you through a big magnifying glass. They do scrutiny. Make comments about you and tell you that you don’t deserve to be there. What is she doing? Why is she discussing cricket?

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‘Match has a different language on camera’

he/she further said, ‘But the channel included me on the board to ask questions. They wanted to get a new audience and that’s why they included me. It was difficult in the beginning because the acceptance was very low. When you sit on a panel and talk to veterans, it’s a different language. When you sit on the sofa watching a cricket match and discussing it, it is one thing, but when the cameras are on you, you have to speak their language.

Mandira used to cry every day after live telecast

Mandira told that she used to cry every day after the live telecast. he/she said, ‘There was a lot of burden on my mind in the first week. I was very worried and nervous. When the red light of the camera came on, I would remain silent. I didn’t even believe that I belonged there. I just wanted to be accepted and be part of the furniture. I just wanted them to be happy having me around. People should just accept me, love me and keep me around.

Cricket legends did not answer Mandira’s questions

Mandira further said, ‘A week was spent completely with hesitations, glitches and mistakes. At the end of every show I would put my head down and cry. The veterans sitting on either side of me, I would ask them questions and they would just look at me. he/she turned to the camera and gave whatever answer he/she wanted, nothing related to my question, because my question probably wasn’t relevant or important to him/her. It was very disturbing. I felt insulted.

Mandira’s turning point

However, things changed when Mandira got her confidence back after the channel’s intervention. She said, ‘At the end of the first week there was an intervention and the channel called me and said, ‘We have selected you out of a thousand women. We think you belong there. You are not an analyst, expert or commentator. You are the host. Go out there and have fun. Show your personality. This intervention was very helpful and was a turning point for me.

Mandira continued asking questions

The actor further said, ‘I went back and I asked a legend, ‘What do you think about xyz cricketer? he/she stared at me and, as usual, replied something else. I again said, ‘But sir, you did not answer my question.’ It was live TV, what could anyone do? Finally, I was getting my answers and people were accepting me and respecting me.

Kareena’s father-in-law praised

Mandira told Kareena that her father-in-law and Saif’s father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had given her the best praise. he/she was very cute. he/she said, ‘When he/she met me for the first time, he/she shook my hand and said, ‘So you are the Mandira Bedi about whom everyone is talking.’ This made me feel very good and special.