April 8,2018
Multi-talented personality Mandira Bedi says her short hair has got her
caught in the stereotype game in the film industry.
The actress plays a
negative character in "Saahoo", featuring Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor.
Mandira said: "I will leave for shooting in Abu Dhabi. I think people cannot
imagine me in any other roles than that of a police officer or any negative
character. I am stuck in stereotype courtesy my short hair."
Mandira
recently completed a Tamil film named "Adangathey" in which she is playing a
police officer.
So, doesn't she want to change her hairstyle for a
variety of roles?
"No, never. I did not think about growing my hair for
that. It is a stereotype that needs to go. Why can't a short-haired lady can
play a lover, a mother or a wife? I am all of them."
Citing an incident,
she said: "During the look test of my last released film 'Vodka Diaries' in
which I played a poet, a romantic role, I wore a sari and tried out beautiful
long hair piece. But the director told me that they could not relate me to that
long hair look. So they keep my look as it is."
Having started her career
on television with the show "Shanti", Mandira has mainly played the role of a
liberal, strong-headed and progressive woman in shows like "Aurat", "CID", "24"
and "MTV Troll Police". Mandira also became a popular cricket show presenter.
While she made her debut in Bollywood with the iconic film "Dilwale Dulhania
Le Jayenge", does she feel that her acting has taken a backstage in her career
and hosting shows has taken centrestage?
"Well, this year I have a couple
of acting assignments and I am travelling also. So I am not really seeing acting
that way. I have also finished a film with Vivek Agnihotri, where I am playing a
social worker. I am not allowed to talk much about the film, which is on Lal
Bahadur Shastri.
"I think when I was hosting shows, people forgot that I
am an actress too. But here I am, shooting for my films these days," said the
45-year-old.
Mandira is supporting the Cinema Premier League, which began
on ZEE Cinema from Saturday and will continue till May 27.
The
championship of cinema will be happening among five teams based on the genres of
films -- Khan Riders', 'Family Indians', 'Comedy Challengers', 'South Kings' and
'Action Warriors'. Mandira is a supporter of Khan Riders.