She’s back with a bang, this time around as a celebrity contestant on the Indian version of the international show I Can Do That (that has earned crazy TRPs in Russia, America, Italy and Bulgaria). “I do this to myself all the time! I always rush headlong into things and then wonder how I am going to pull it off,” laughs television show host Mandira, as we settle down over hot cappuccino on a Sunday morning at a suburban five star hotel in Mumbai.

It’s been a busy time, busier than ever for Mandira as she has just returned from Dubai after hosting an event, is busy shooting and is also going to be hopping across leading cities as well, pan India, to launch her new designer saree collection in consonance with the latest diamond jewellery collection. She has also commenced shooting for the show, to be aired next month onwards on Zee TV, and is pushing herself to the extreme, literally, swimming with octopuses and the like in deep pools and more, as part of the crazy, mind-blowing challenges assigned to each of the 12 celebrity participants (including Gauhar Khan, Gurmeet Choudhry and Ritvik Dhanjani). “I am enjoying every minute of the shoots,” shares Mandira, excitement dancing in her eyes. “It is anchored by Farhan Akhtar and we make for an interesting, raring bunch of participants.”
Television is known territory for the actress who shone in Doordarshan’s first ever soap Shanti, then grabbed eyeballs in the iconic film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge as Shah Rukh Khan’s possible love interest, took to cricket commentary with a vengeance during the early IPL seasons, anchored Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar 2, a music reality show on TV, stalked the ramp as showstopper in fashion weeks galore and launched her own line of designer nine yards with a big bang. Of course, playing the compere at live shows, successful theatre outings, multiple endorsements and more have been keeping her busier than the proverbial bee over the years. Yet she has discovered a curious balance between…
Shilpi Madan for Deccan Herald