Mandira Bedi opens up about ‘disastrous’ first week hosting the 2003 World Cup: “I would put my head down and cry”

Actor-turned-presenter Mandira Bedi has opened up about the difficult beginning to her stint as a host during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, saying that despite a rocky first week, she managed to turn public opinion around by changing her approach on live TV. The account appeared in an Indian Express report summarising Bedi’s conversation on Sanjeev Datta’s Personality School YouTube channel.

Mandira said, “Cricket was career changing for me,” revealed she was spotted after screen tests and selected from among many hopefuls. “My first reaction was yes when they asked me to host the World Cup, but a lot came after that. They were screen-testing 1000 other women.” She remembered how intimidating it was to sit beside legendary ex-cricketers and face live television for the first time.

She reflected on her first experience of hosting the World Cup, describing it as highly challenging. Sharing the stage with legendary former cricketers, she admitted, “No matter how much you prepare for that moment, you’re never truly prepared for it.”

Reflecting on that opening week, Bedi admitted, “The beginning was disastrous. I had a lot of baggage in my head, thinking this is cricket, it is the highest rated content on Indian television. And words once spoken on live TV cannot be taken back. I had a lot of nervous energy and I messed up a few times. After every show, I would put my head down and would cry.”

She said channel executives intervened to calm her and reshape expectations. “Eventually, they had a little intervention, and they told me that you have what it takes, but there is something that is holding you back, just go and have fun. They told me you are not a commentator or an analyst, so just go and ask whatever you want, nothing is off the table,” she revealed.

After that talk, Bedi changed tack on air. “Post that intervention with tears streaking on my face, I went on air and I smiled through it all. That was half the job done. I smiled and asked cheeky questions. I made people laugh and everything changed after that.”

She added, “The first week was a disaster, but it was a long tournament, so I took time to change people’s minds. All the talk that was coming about ‘how dumb she is, not one word that she speaks is sensible’, it changed to ‘what a delight it is to have her on the panel, she makes the panel more fun.’ A lot of people’s minds got changed during that period of a few weeks.”

Also Read : Mandira Bedi likely to return in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot after 25 years: Report

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