Mandira Bedi recently opened up about her challenging experience as a cricket show host during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. Known for her career in television and films, Bedi's foray into sports anchoring came as a result of a chance encounter with Sony TV executives. Her love for cricket caught the attention of the executives, leading them to consider her for the anchor role. However, the journey was not smooth, and Bedi faced numerous obstacles, including sexism and a lack of support from her co-hosts and the audience.
In a recent interview, Bedi shared how she landed the hosting gig. In 2002, after India made it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, Bedi, who is a cricket enthusiast, booked a ticket to Sri Lanka to watch the match. At the event, she caught the attention of Sony TV personnel, who were surprised to see her there. Bedi recalled, "They just had me at the back of their mind as someone who really likes cricket." When Sony TV later decided to bring a female anchor on board for the 2003 World Cup, they reached out to Bedi. She described the unexpected call and the ensuing whirlwind of questions and auditions that followed.
Despite securing the role, Bedi's transition to television hosting was far from seamless. She faced significant challenges, including criticism and scrutiny from viewers and colleagues. At that time, social media was not as prevalent as it is today, but the internet was still a place where people could voice their opinions. Sony TV took measures to protect Bedi from negative comments, telling her, "You are not allowed to know what people are saying." This decision was aimed at shielding her from the harsh critiques that could have affected her performance and confidence.
The experience taught Bedi valuable life lessons. She learned to focus on the positive feedback and not to be swayed by negative opinions. "What I did learn from the cricket time is that there’ll be people who like you in life and then there will be people in life who won’t like you. So the ones who like you, be grateful about them and the ones who don’t, don’t try and please them," she reflected.
Bedi also spoke about the sexism she faced during her time as a cricket show host. She recalled being ignored by cricketers on the show who disregarded her questions. In a chat with Humans of Bombay, Bedi shared that the presence of a woman on the panel was not well-received by her male colleagues. "It was not easy because they had never had a woman sitting on the panel. So, the legends sitting on the left and the right, they weren’t particularly excited about having a woman on the panel."
During the first week of the show, Bedi found herself in tears, overwhelmed by the lack of support and the dismissive attitude of her co-hosts. "I would put my head down and cry, and people sitting on my left and right would say, ‘I will just go and get some coffee. Would you like some coffee?’ and just leave. I was miserable, and nobody said anything to me for the first week. I was stuttering, stumbling, and nervous, and I was not getting any support from anywhere," she recalled.
Eventually, the show's producers intervened, encouraging Bedi to be more assertive with her questions and to make the discussions more engaging. This advice helped her regain her confidence and transformed the show into a more enjoyable experience. Bedi followed their guidance, and the show eventually became a more positive experience for her.
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