Mini Mathur has spoken about a difficult phase in her career when becoming a mother affected a major television opportunity. The television host and actor, who recently won Amazon Prime Video’s reality show ‘Alliance’, recalled the experience during an interview with Hauterrfly’s ‘The Male Feminist’.
Mathur said she was expecting her second child, Sairah, after the fourth season of ‘Indian Idol’. At the time, she was preparing to return for the show’s next season.
Why she was asked to step away
Mini Mathur said she informed the ‘Indian Idol’ team that she was pregnant and would be able to take part in the auditions. However, she expected her pregnancy to become visible by the time the finale episodes were filmed.
According to Mathur, she was then told not to host the fifth season because the Indian audience would supposedly not accept a pregnant host.
The decision left her feeling deeply disappointed. She said she felt people involved with the show were unable to understand how society and the world were changing.
Mathur was later approached to return for ‘Indian Idol’ Season 6. By then, however, she said she no longer wanted to continue with the show and declined the opportunity.
A long television career
Mathur began her television journey with ‘Tol Mol Ke Bol’, which featured R Madhavan. She later spent several years as an MTV VJ before becoming widely known as the host of ‘Indian Idol’.
Over the years, she has worked across television, films and streaming projects. Her credits include the series ‘Mind the Malhotras’. She is married to filmmaker and screenwriter Kabir Khan.
- Mini Mathur
