Mandira Bedi To Bharti Singh: Anchors We Have Loved Watching On Small Screen

Women have played a huge role in shaping Indian television, both in all its glory and cringe. Be it as actors and producers, or directors and newsreaders, one can confidently say that women are the backbone of the Indian television industry, having taken it to heights of unfathomable viewership.

Television was a big part of our growing up years when the Internet was not that accessible and social media was a very new and strange place. In those years, we watched several iconic shows that shaped our mindset, but we were also in for a ton of entertainment.

The entertainment quotient of Indian TV won't be complete without a mention of reality, talent hunt and comedy shows. While it is the contestants that have our attention, over the years, there have been women who have hosted these shows and managed to leave a mark.

Here are some of the most popular TV anchors in India we have loved watching:

Shweta Tiwari

Shweta Tiwari. Image Credit: Youtube screenshot

Shweta Tiwari predominantly works in Hindi-language films and TV shows. She is best known for her role as Prerna Sharma Bajaj in Ekta Kapoor's daily soap Kasautii Zindagii Kay. While she has participated in many dance reality TV shows herself as a contestant, she hosted Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 in 2009.

Suggested Reading: A Look At The Most Popular Women TV Anchors In India

Shruti Seth

Indian actor, VJ and TV host, Shruti Seth started her career as a model and began hosting Channel V's shows at the turn of the millennium. She is best known for her role as Jiya Malhotra in Shararat. Her first show as an anchor was Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai in 2003. Later, she also anchored Comedy Circus TV show series during various years starting from 2007. In 2009, she hosted the Indian cookery TV series Mallika-E-Kitchen.

Anusha Dandekar

Anusha Dandekar

Indian-Australian VJ, anchor, singer and actor Anusha Dandekar is known for hosting many programmes on Indian television, including MTV's House of Style, Dance Crew, Teen Diva, Love School and India's Next Top Model in which she also mentored the contestants.

Bharti Singh

Probably one of the most well-known women comedians of our times, Singh was a runner up on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 4. Her first show as a host was Sau Saal Cinema Ke. She then went on to anchor India's Got Talent for three years straight. She was also seen as an anchor in India's Best Dancer, a dance reality TV show along with her husband Harsh Limbachiya.

Mandira Bedi

Film and television actor Mandira Bedi caught fans by surprise when she turned up as an anchor for ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 becoming one of the first women on Indian television to host shows about cricket. She repeated the stint for 2007 World Cup as well as the Champions Trophies in 2004 and 2006. Not just cricket, Bedi has hosted several reality and talent hunt shows like Fame Gurukul, Deal Ya No Deal, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, and Indian Idol Junior.

Farah Khan Kunder

Dancer, choreographer, director Farah Khan has hosted a spin-off of Bigg Boss Season 8, Bigg Boss Halla Bol as a substitute for Salman Khan. In 2015, she hosted Farah Ki Dawat, an Indian TV cookery show and also anchored in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India and Big Boss 14.

Mona Singh

Best known for her work as an actor in shows like Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain and Yeh Meri Family Singh turned host for shows like Comedy Nights Live, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 and has also co-hosted several award shows.

Feature Image Credit: The Indian Express