She has broken a number of gender stereotypes and I am sure this will not be the last one. After the sudden demise of her husband Raj Kaushal she decided to give kandha or carry his body on her very able shoulder, an activity that is reserved for the men of the family. And she did that in blue jeans and white t-shirt.

Mandira Bedi has never been the strait-jacketed celeb. And for that, she has been trolled mercilessly. She was not spared even in her grief.

But why the brouhaha over her decision to bid final goodbye to her companion for life? Who was more suitable to take her place? Her son who is a mere kid or the daughter, whom she adopted last year? Shielding them would be the first priority for any mother. And bidding the a sincere goodbye to her partner was the most natural thing to do for a loving wife. Though shocked at the untimely and sudden demise, she did not fail in her duty. Now whether she should do that in a sari, a salwar or a pair of jeans is utterly inconsequential. Jeans does no disrespect to the dead. But insensitivity and impropriety do. And that’s what trolls are excellent at.

Even now the camera does not spare her as any news item on her would bring clickbaits. As she takes ing a walk with her mother, social media is all abuzz. Should she do it? So fast? Isn’t she in mourning?

But then Bedi is no stranger to this. As she posted her pictures on Instagram during lockdown, in neon shorts or doing the headstand in pink tights, urging all to keep anxiety at bay, or posed in a red hot bikini with a tattoo on her belly button, both her fans and detractors were quick to respond. And she revelled in that. Just as she revelled in the noodle strap blouses with shimmery saris that she wore while presenting cricket matches.

Mandira Bedi sure made the sari sexy. Never mind what she espoused about cricket, she added oomph to the game, setting the precedent for many later short dress-clad presenters.

She did things her way.

In any case, it’s nobody’s business how she dresses when she is mourning.