Television host and actress Mini Mathur recently opened up about a painful chapter from her career. She shared that she lost the hosting opportunity for Indian Idol Season 5 after telling the show’s team that she was pregnant with her second child. The makers told her that Indian audiences would not accept a pregnant woman as the host of the reality singing competition.
Mathur, who recently won the reality show Alliance on Amazon Prime Video, spoke about this experience during an interview with Hauterrfly’s podcast The Male Feminist. She recalled how her pregnancy affected her professional opportunities at different points in her television career.
What Happened With Indian Idol Season 5
Mini Mathur had already hosted the first three seasons of Indian Idol and became one of the most recognised faces of the singing reality show. When the team was preparing to start the fifth season, Mathur informed them that she was expecting her second child, Sairah, with her husband, filmmaker Kabir Khan.
She told the team that she would be fine during the audition phase. However, she also mentioned that by the time the finale episodes were being filmed, her pregnancy would be visible.
“When I was expecting Sairah, which was after the fourth season of Indian Idol, and I told the team as they were going to start Season 5, that I am pregnant and I am going to be fine during the auditions but by the time we are doing the finale episodes I will be showing. So I was told to not do the season on my face. Reason? Indian audiences will not be able to accept a pregnant host,” Mini Mathur said.
The decision left her deeply disappointed. She felt that the industry was not keeping up with how the world was changing.
“I felt very let down, with the fact that these people are not even able to see what is happening in the world,” she added.
Mini Mathur Turned Down Season 6 Offer
After being removed from Indian Idol Season 5, the show’s team approached Mini Mathur again for the sixth season. But by that time, her feelings towards the show had changed completely.
She decided not to return and declined the offer.
“I was called back for Season 6 but by that time my heart was not on the same page. I told that I do not want to do that,” Mini Mathur said.
The experience changed her relationship with the show that had made her a household name. She chose to move on rather than continue with a team that did not support her during an important phase of her personal life.
Similar Experience With MTV
This was not the first time Mini Mathur faced career setbacks because of pregnancy. She also shared that her contract with MTV was not renewed after she became pregnant with her first child, Vivaan.
Mathur had spent five years as a VJ on MTV. When she told the channel about her pregnancy, they decided not to extend her contract. The reason given was that VJs are never pregnant.
“When I got pregnant with Vivaan, I had spent five years on MTV. My contract was not renewed because VJs are never pregnant,” she recalled.
She remembered being told in a very casual manner: “You are pregnant. Have fun. Wish you a good life”.
Mathur felt upset because she believed her years of work and the value she had created for the channel should have mattered more than her pregnancy.
“I felt a little bad. Because I felt that you have generated a value for yourself through your career and skills and for the channel. But to use the pregnancy as an exit was a bit infuriating,” Mini Mathur said.
Comparing With The West
Mini Mathur also compared how pregnancy is treated in the Indian entertainment industry versus how it is handled abroad. She mentioned Heidi Klum, who continued to host Project Runway while visibly pregnant.
“Heidi Klum was hosting fully pregnant on Runway. But that is the West,” Mathur said.
She felt that Indian television makers lacked the foresight to see that audiences are changing and that a pregnant host should not be an issue.
Related:
Mini Mathur’s Television Journey
Mini Mathur began her television career with the game show Tol Mol Ke Bol, which also featured R Madhavan. She then became an MTV VJ and spent several years with the channel.
She became widely known as the host of Indian Idol, where she hosted the early seasons of the singing reality show. Over the years, she has worked across television, streaming platforms, and films. Her credits include the series Mind the Malhotras.
Recently, she participated in and won the reality show Alliance on Amazon Prime Video, taking home the trophy along with a ₹50 lakh cash prize.
Personal Life
Mini Mathur has been married to filmmaker Kabir Khan for 28 years. Kabir is known for directing films like Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 83, and Chand Champion.
The couple met during a shoot for a Home TV show. Kabir was working as a freelance cameraperson at the time, while Mini was a presenter. They both had gone to the production house office to discuss scheduling issues and ended up meeting each other for the first time.
They decided to do the show together and travelled across India, which gave them the chance to get to know each other. The couple has two children — son Vivaan and daughter Sairah.
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