Mini Mathur on back from Afghanistan...

Mini Mathur, the host of Indian Idol 2, is back from Afghanistan. She was busy helping her filmmaker husband Kabir Khan with his international project. The film focuses on the contemporary problems in Afghanistan.

Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah star in it. Talking about her experience, Mini says, "Afghanistan was fantastic, but those who think India is a third world country, should see Afghanistan. It is a bizarre place but the scenic beauty is awesome."

Mini has an English literature degree from Lady Shriram College, Delhi University and a business management degree from IMT, Ghaziabad. Mini became a household name in India after she hosted India's first game show Tol Mol Ke Bol.

She was also a VJ with MTV and has hosted some of the channel's biggest shows during her tenure. She also produced two documentaries, A Nation Celebrates, to commemorate 50 years of Independence and From Corner Shops To Lords, a film on successful NRIs in England — both documentaries were commissioned by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Mini stepped out of the limelight for a while when she had her son Vivan. "Being a mother is the best thing in the world. I'd recommend it to everyone," she smiles.

After a year long sabbatical she made a dazzling comeback as the host for the popular reality show, Indian Idol. Now she dons the same role for Indian Idol 2. Mini herself is the product of a talent hunt. She took part in MTV's talent hunt for VJs, but admits that the current crop of talent shows is much bigger than the one she took part in. She says, "Now there are huge crowds as talent hunts are going to smaller towns as well. And more and more people want to see themselves on TV."

Having taken part in a talent hunt, Mini can't seem to get herself to be stern with the participants because she says, "My job so far has been to encourage the participants, make them feel relaxed and play friend as well as a human handkerchief." When asked what she thinks about judges being rude on these shows, she takes their side and explains, "The judges are having a tough time with thousands of people taking part.

Besides people are enjoying the show so their judgment has to be above the mark."
Even though she enjoys hosting Indian Idol, she is sick of veejaying. "I don't want to go back to veejaying. Doing the same stuff doesn't excite me. But I also don't want to act in serials as they've all started to look the same and I can't see myself doing that tear-jerking stuff." After having worked in serials like Vaqalat, Tanaav and Kwaaish she has strong views on the saas-bahu sagas.

"The serials today are regressive and unreal. I don't wish to be a part of that rut which is disgusting. I reject a couple of acting offers every week. The usual soaps propagate false values and suck people into a synthetic world. I can't do that kind of work," she says