Now I am Better Known as an Anchor than an Actor - Mandira Bedi
Profile and interview by Richard Lasrado
September 20, 2006
For many, she is a femme fatale of the small screen or the cricket world. Many of her die-hard fans consider her an essential oomph girl. For commoners she is simply a changi kudi Punjab di (Pretty girl from Punjab).
It is not uncommon to hear comments from the female viewers' domain that she tends to be more loquacious than necessary at the Extraa Innings cricket sessions. But her staunch fans would consider such views only as an upshot of envious admiration.
Having spent some hours in the company of svelte cricket-loving diva Mandira Bedi as we shuttled between the Gully cricket venues in Mangalore and the hotel they stayed in, travelling in the same car with Charu Sharma, another adorable cricket anchor, one could not help getting floored by her ebulliently fun-loving nature.
She is certainly the one who would invite from her fans affectionate chants of Oye, Bubbly! (with apologies to Pepsi and their frightfully creative copywriters).
Mandira Bedi is an Indian Bollywood actor, who shot to international fame as a television presenter during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. She was particularly noted for the variety of wardrobe she put on display during the WC series for the whole world to watch.
With all respect to the other female players in the World Cup arena and without any offence intended to them, it can be said that Mandira left longer lasting impressions on the viewers than Sandhya Mridul, Maria Goretti Khan and Ruby Bhatia, feel a majority of viewers.
With Richard Lasrado
MAX channel is reported to have registered a markedly sharp ascent in female viewership after Mandira entered the scenario.
No wonder then she has continued to be their brand ambassador, and maybe would do so for a long, long time to come.
She was born and brought up in Mumbai and is married to an Indian movie director Raj Kaushal. They live in Bandra, Mumbai.
She started her career with the title role in a TV soap serial Shanti (1995). It was UTV director Adi Pocha who spotted her and cast her in the serial. In Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, she made a foray into the silver screen. She did a negative role as Dr Mandira Kapadia in the agonizingly long-drawn TV serial, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
In 2004, she did a Tamil movie called Manmadhan.
Mandira's glamour image was noticed when she joined the Extraa Innings team. On the one hand, she was hailed for bringing in an element of glamour when the game was getting a bit boring; on the other, there were jibes about her 'overdoing' it, her attire included.
Then she appeared on the reality show, Fame Gurukul which ended in October 2005. Later, she replaced R Madhavan in Deal ya No Deal, but exited from it after some time.
Mandira got married to film-maker Raj Kaushal on the Valentine's Day a few years ago. They are distinctly different from each other. Yet the bond they have cemented between them has withstood the test of time and challenges of individual careers, including staying away from each other on long durations.
By her own admission, Mandira seems to know what attracted her to the man of her dreams. Mandira's last release was Shaadi ka Laddoo, which was her husband Raj Kaushal's project with Sanjay Suri, Ashish Chowdhury and Samita Bangargi.
Viewers felt it could be a foil of the lighter side of their own marriage. The dilemma of married and unmarried men is vividly portrayed in the movie.
In Manmadhan she played the role of a psychiatrist and gave a realistic performance, according to critics. In the extra-curricular territory, she did a splendid job in winning the Fear Factor championship. With Extraa Innings, her assignment was to bring in the women audiences. Viewers, especially housewives, know her well, having been exposed to her histrionics in Shanti.
So she feels the element of curiosity too would make the housewives switch over to the cricket sessions on Max channel.
She is not nervous either and firmly believes that her spontaneity has been holding her in good stead. More stress is laid on cricket-related opinions.
Since it is a 'live' show, there are no takes and retakes. Any goof-up could prove expensive and she does her homework properly in advance, she says.
She has been once chosen as the Asmi Woman of the Year by the Diamond Trading Company (DTC).
She, for a year, played a vital role in the marketing and promotional activities of the Asmi brand. The firm felt that she was a perfect fit for the brand.
She, the firm also felt, was an epitome of what an Asmi woman ought to be - possessing all that is synonymous with the essence of a woman - being passionate, feminine and beautiful, all of which they found in Mandira.
What has made her click as a model, actor in TV serials and cricket anchor is her ability to establish a rapport with the viewers with her instant wit and inimitable spontaneity.
She arrived in Mangalore on Friday, September 15 in the company of Charu Sharma - who needs no introduction - to play Gully Cricket at two venues - The Women's Polytechnic in Bondel and MV Shetty College in Gandhinagar- Kavoor.
They got cracking immediately upon arrival, by addressing a media meet.
An advance appointment through Setindia's senior vice president and business head Albert Almeida - who has his family roots in Mangalore - and public relations consultant Monika Bhattacharyya a day earlier from Mumbai made things easier and gave me an opportunity to travel with them from venue to venue and then back to the city. And that was the only way I could get a fair chance to interview both Charu and Mandira extensively!
Excerpts from Mandira Bedi's interview:
Tell us about your professional career.
As you know, I started with the TV serial Shanti, then there was Aurat. Later on I was part of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
You played a negative role - that of Dr Mandira Kapadia, the 'other' woman in 'Kyunki....'.
Yes, that was a negative role. I did not take up any negative role ever since, and perhaps may not hence as well. Thereafter, I was busy with the World Cup, followed by a phone-in show on TV called Dial-One. Then came a longer show called Fame Gurukul and after that Deal Ya No Deal.
While on the subject of these reality shows, esp. in 'Fame Gurukul', the aspirants used to turn up and compete and when some of them lost, they would not accept defeat in a spirit of the game; instead they would crumble and break down as if it was the end of the world. How did you handle those emotional moments?
I am a terribly emotional person. When some of the contestants were voted out, I really took it to heart. In some cases, even I cried. Even in the show Deal Ya No Deal there were contestants who came with high hopes of winning a lot money to take care of some family expenses, someone's surgery or with a lots of loans on their heads. And those who needed it most were voted out. That was really heart-breaking. I am emotional also while the game of cricket is on and when my country plays.
In the reality shows, there were competent and eminent judges to evaluate the performances. But sometimes, the deserving ones were voted out by virtue of the nationwide SMS voting system. Was it a fair method, in that there were chances of manipulation by candidates by ensuring that thousands of SMS messages were sent from different places in their favour?
No, there was no chance of manipulation because there were chartered accountancy firms to monitor this voting system. They ensure that there is absolutely no chance of rigging. And speaking about disappointment, there are some celebrities taking part in some of the shows these days. They may have their wins and losses, but they have to accept it. Everyone cannot be a winner. Some have to lose.
Coming back to cricket again, how did the passion for cricket grow in you? Is it a recent development or did it take roots long ago?
I used to take keen interest in cricket when my father and brother were watching cricket. They are ardent and hardcore audience of the game. I have grown up in that atmosphere and have developed this passion for the game for a long time now. But I never ever imagined that some day I would sit among the panel commenting on the game.
While you were commenting on cricket, there was a bit of negative criticism, pointing at the 'spaghetti' or 'noodle-strap' element in your wardrobe than your skills in commenting. Could it be because you were 'infringing' upon an essentially male domain of commentators?
I won't take it that way. At the same time, I wore just what was 'in' or fashionable and there was no other purpose. If it took precedence over the subject of cricket, it is just sad.
With this kind of interest in the game, wouldn't you have joined a women's cricket team to become another Shanta Rangaswamy, or Diana Eduljee or Anjum Chopra?
Oh God, I am really upset that my mom didn't allow me to join coaching classes in cricket, while she allowed only my brother.
Do you think that your acting career has been hampered by your taking up anchoring in cricket?
Not exactly. I am still getting acting offers. But now I am occupied with the ensuing cricket series. People have now accepted me as an anchor rather than an actor.
How did you find the response to the Gully Cricket in Mangalore?
It was just great. It was held in a much more organized way here. The crowd just loved the game.
But both you and Charu got mobbed as well, making it difficult for you to move around.
Yes, but that was after the game got over. Until then everything went on well. The fan following is just natural. But this is the third centre we are playing in. When we played in the earlier two centres, the crowd gathered just close to the pitch. We were scared if they would get hurt. But here, people kept a safe distance and only at the end they wanted us to mingle with them.
Is this your first visit to Mangalore?
No, it is the second. I was here once earlier to attend a wedding. But I flew back to Mumbai immediately because of preoccupations. Today I am looking forward to tasting some lovely Mangalorean food and would like to visit this place again.
September 20, 2006
For many, she is a femme fatale of the small screen or the cricket world. Many of her die-hard fans consider her an essential oomph girl. For commoners she is simply a changi kudi Punjab di (Pretty girl from Punjab).
It is not uncommon to hear comments from the female viewers' domain that she tends to be more loquacious than necessary at the Extraa Innings cricket sessions. But her staunch fans would consider such views only as an upshot of envious admiration.
Having spent some hours in the company of svelte cricket-loving diva Mandira Bedi as we shuttled between the Gully cricket venues in Mangalore and the hotel they stayed in, travelling in the same car with Charu Sharma, another adorable cricket anchor, one could not help getting floored by her ebulliently fun-loving nature.
She is certainly the one who would invite from her fans affectionate chants of Oye, Bubbly! (with apologies to Pepsi and their frightfully creative copywriters).Mandira Bedi is an Indian Bollywood actor, who shot to international fame as a television presenter during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. She was particularly noted for the variety of wardrobe she put on display during the WC series for the whole world to watch.
With all respect to the other female players in the World Cup arena and without any offence intended to them, it can be said that Mandira left longer lasting impressions on the viewers than Sandhya Mridul, Maria Goretti Khan and Ruby Bhatia, feel a majority of viewers.
With Richard LasradoMAX channel is reported to have registered a markedly sharp ascent in female viewership after Mandira entered the scenario.
No wonder then she has continued to be their brand ambassador, and maybe would do so for a long, long time to come.
She was born and brought up in Mumbai and is married to an Indian movie director Raj Kaushal. They live in Bandra, Mumbai.
She started her career with the title role in a TV soap serial Shanti (1995). It was UTV director Adi Pocha who spotted her and cast her in the serial. In Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, she made a foray into the silver screen. She did a negative role as Dr Mandira Kapadia in the agonizingly long-drawn TV serial, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
In 2004, she did a Tamil movie called Manmadhan.
Mandira's glamour image was noticed when she joined the Extraa Innings team. On the one hand, she was hailed for bringing in an element of glamour when the game was getting a bit boring; on the other, there were jibes about her 'overdoing' it, her attire included. Then she appeared on the reality show, Fame Gurukul which ended in October 2005. Later, she replaced R Madhavan in Deal ya No Deal, but exited from it after some time.
Mandira got married to film-maker Raj Kaushal on the Valentine's Day a few years ago. They are distinctly different from each other. Yet the bond they have cemented between them has withstood the test of time and challenges of individual careers, including staying away from each other on long durations.
By her own admission, Mandira seems to know what attracted her to the man of her dreams. Mandira's last release was Shaadi ka Laddoo, which was her husband Raj Kaushal's project with Sanjay Suri, Ashish Chowdhury and Samita Bangargi.Viewers felt it could be a foil of the lighter side of their own marriage. The dilemma of married and unmarried men is vividly portrayed in the movie.
In Manmadhan she played the role of a psychiatrist and gave a realistic performance, according to critics. In the extra-curricular territory, she did a splendid job in winning the Fear Factor championship. With Extraa Innings, her assignment was to bring in the women audiences. Viewers, especially housewives, know her well, having been exposed to her histrionics in Shanti.
So she feels the element of curiosity too would make the housewives switch over to the cricket sessions on Max channel.
She is not nervous either and firmly believes that her spontaneity has been holding her in good stead. More stress is laid on cricket-related opinions.Since it is a 'live' show, there are no takes and retakes. Any goof-up could prove expensive and she does her homework properly in advance, she says.
She has been once chosen as the Asmi Woman of the Year by the Diamond Trading Company (DTC).
She, for a year, played a vital role in the marketing and promotional activities of the Asmi brand. The firm felt that she was a perfect fit for the brand.
She, the firm also felt, was an epitome of what an Asmi woman ought to be - possessing all that is synonymous with the essence of a woman - being passionate, feminine and beautiful, all of which they found in Mandira.
What has made her click as a model, actor in TV serials and cricket anchor is her ability to establish a rapport with the viewers with her instant wit and inimitable spontaneity.She arrived in Mangalore on Friday, September 15 in the company of Charu Sharma - who needs no introduction - to play Gully Cricket at two venues - The Women's Polytechnic in Bondel and MV Shetty College in Gandhinagar- Kavoor.
They got cracking immediately upon arrival, by addressing a media meet.
Richard, Charu and Mandira
An advance appointment through Setindia's senior vice president and business head Albert Almeida - who has his family roots in Mangalore - and public relations consultant Monika Bhattacharyya a day earlier from Mumbai made things easier and gave me an opportunity to travel with them from venue to venue and then back to the city. And that was the only way I could get a fair chance to interview both Charu and Mandira extensively!
Excerpts from Mandira Bedi's interview:
Tell us about your professional career.
As you know, I started with the TV serial Shanti, then there was Aurat. Later on I was part of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
Yes, that was a negative role. I did not take up any negative role ever since, and perhaps may not hence as well. Thereafter, I was busy with the World Cup, followed by a phone-in show on TV called Dial-One. Then came a longer show called Fame Gurukul and after that Deal Ya No Deal.
While on the subject of these reality shows, esp. in 'Fame Gurukul', the aspirants used to turn up and compete and when some of them lost, they would not accept defeat in a spirit of the game; instead they would crumble and break down as if it was the end of the world. How did you handle those emotional moments?
I am a terribly emotional person. When some of the contestants were voted out, I really took it to heart. In some cases, even I cried. Even in the show Deal Ya No Deal there were contestants who came with high hopes of winning a lot money to take care of some family expenses, someone's surgery or with a lots of loans on their heads. And those who needed it most were voted out. That was really heart-breaking. I am emotional also while the game of cricket is on and when my country plays.
In the reality shows, there were competent and eminent judges to evaluate the performances. But sometimes, the deserving ones were voted out by virtue of the nationwide SMS voting system. Was it a fair method, in that there were chances of manipulation by candidates by ensuring that thousands of SMS messages were sent from different places in their favour?
No, there was no chance of manipulation because there were chartered accountancy firms to monitor this voting system. They ensure that there is absolutely no chance of rigging. And speaking about disappointment, there are some celebrities taking part in some of the shows these days. They may have their wins and losses, but they have to accept it. Everyone cannot be a winner. Some have to lose.
Coming back to cricket again, how did the passion for cricket grow in you? Is it a recent development or did it take roots long ago?
I used to take keen interest in cricket when my father and brother were watching cricket. They are ardent and hardcore audience of the game. I have grown up in that atmosphere and have developed this passion for the game for a long time now. But I never ever imagined that some day I would sit among the panel commenting on the game.
While you were commenting on cricket, there was a bit of negative criticism, pointing at the 'spaghetti' or 'noodle-strap' element in your wardrobe than your skills in commenting. Could it be because you were 'infringing' upon an essentially male domain of commentators?
I won't take it that way. At the same time, I wore just what was 'in' or fashionable and there was no other purpose. If it took precedence over the subject of cricket, it is just sad.
With this kind of interest in the game, wouldn't you have joined a women's cricket team to become another Shanta Rangaswamy, or Diana Eduljee or Anjum Chopra?
Oh God, I am really upset that my mom didn't allow me to join coaching classes in cricket, while she allowed only my brother.
Do you think that your acting career has been hampered by your taking up anchoring in cricket?
Not exactly. I am still getting acting offers. But now I am occupied with the ensuing cricket series. People have now accepted me as an anchor rather than an actor.
How did you find the response to the Gully Cricket in Mangalore?
It was just great. It was held in a much more organized way here. The crowd just loved the game.
But both you and Charu got mobbed as well, making it difficult for you to move around.
Yes, but that was after the game got over. Until then everything went on well. The fan following is just natural. But this is the third centre we are playing in. When we played in the earlier two centres, the crowd gathered just close to the pitch. We were scared if they would get hurt. But here, people kept a safe distance and only at the end they wanted us to mingle with them.
Is this your first visit to Mangalore?
No, it is the second. I was here once earlier to attend a wedding. But I flew back to Mumbai immediately because of preoccupations. Today I am looking forward to tasting some lovely Mangalorean food and would like to visit this place again.
