‘Raj and I have an understanding’-Mandira

'Raj and I have an understanding'

After being linked with Samir Soni, Mandira Bedi says that she treats link-ups as occupational hazards now

DEEPALI DHINGRA

"There have been two turning points in my life," says Mandira Bedi, "One, when I did Shanti — it got me a lot of work and second, was when I agreed to do a cricket based show — that opened up a lot of avenues for me." Mandira acknowledges that she was the first woman to make a mark for herself in the male dominated field of cricket. "I take it as a compliment when I see that almost every cricket based show has a woman," she says.
But what about the time that Mandira Bedi and noodle straps had become synonymous? "Frankly, what I wore was nothing out of the ordinary and it wasn't meant to shock anybody. Women wear such clothes all the time. It's just that it was a cricket based show and there was a woman wearing such clothes on it," she says. And now, Mandira's back in action with Extraa Innings. "I see similiar things being attempted elsewhere but I know our show is truly one of its kind," she says. So what kind of clothes will she be wearing this time around? "I'm aware that I'll be under a watchful eye, so I've left my clothes in the able hands of a designer," she laughs.
Apart from the show, Mandira's awaiting the release of her two films, Sanjay Gupta's Dus Kahaaniyan and Marathon. Her play Anything But Love still runs to packed houses. But the play can't be mentioned without talking about the rumour linking her and co-star Samir Soni. "Samir and I are very good friends and I understand him very well," says Mandira. She used to get annoyed initially but gradually she's learnt to take such rumours in her stride. Did husband Raj Kaushal ever question her? "Never," she says firmly and then adds, "Even Raj was linked with Nigar Khan when they were working together but we understand now that these are just occupational hazards we have to deal with. Raj and I have an understanding," she adds.