Mandira Bedi -  The Diva from the 90's

Mandira Bedi is an Indian actress, TV presenter, fashion designer, and sports presenter who has been active in the film and media industry since 1994. Famous for her bold attitude and confident on-screen presence, Mandira is one of the most popular and successful female TV presenters. 

Mandira was born on April 15, 1972, in Kolkata, West Bengal, to Virender Singh and Gita Bedi. She did her schooling at Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. Mandira went to St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai for her graduation. 

Apart from her on-screen presence and gorgeous looks, Mandira is also famous for her fit body. Even at 49 years, the 5 feet 6 inches tall diva has a body that many envies. She goes to the gym and practices Yoga regularly, which has helped her achieve a super-fit body with just 54 kg of weight.

Mandira became a popular face in showbiz after her appearance in the 1994 serial Shanti on Doordarshan. Next, she appeared in the horror series Aaahat that was telecasted on Sony Entertainment in 1995. She has been an active face in the entertainment and film industry since then. 

Her first movie appearance came in 1995. Mandira played the character of Preeti in the Shahrukh Khan and Kajol-starer iconic and superhit film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. 

After a couple of outstanding performances, Mandira became a popular face in the entertainment industry. People started to admire her. 

Following is a list of movies that Mandira played a role in, along with the character name. 

 

Acting in movies doesn’t mean that Mandira stopped working in TV serials.

She acted in some of the most popular TV serials and reality shows that include Shanti, CID, Hello Friends, Duhman, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai, Fear Factor India, Ghar Jamai, and Mahabharat.

As the audience's interest shifted towards OTT, Mandira also shifted her interest towards the new medium of entertainment and featured in several web series. Below is a list of the web series she has been a part of.

 

Apart from shining on-screen, Mandira also has been a very successful cricket presenter. She was a key presenter during the 2007 ICC World Cup. She was one of the first few women who started presenting cricket, a job that was deemed fit for only men since then.

Mandira has been breaking stereotypes for decades. The diva doesn't shy away from expressing herself from her unique dressing style to bold approach and sporting a hippie cut. 

However, like any other public figure, Mandira too has had controversies in her career. The biggest of them took place during the 2007 World Cup when she wore a saree with all the participating countries' flags. But the Indian flag was below her knee near her foot. This didn't go down well with the Indian supporters who criticized the actress for disrespecting the tri-color. 

 

Personal Life:

After dating director Raj Kaushal for some time, Mandira married him on February 14, 1999. The couple had their first child, son Vir, on June 19, 2011. They adopted a 4-year-old girl in October 2020 and named her Tara Bedi Kaushal. 

Mandira is a huge fitness enthusiast but an equally big foodie. Her favorite restaurant is China Gate in Bandra. She likes Chinese food and chocolates.

Mandira was a hardcore non-vegetarian, but she later turned vegetarian. She became a face for PETA and promoted faux leather for the animal rights group.