Mini Mathur says pregnancy led to loss of hosting roles on MTV and Indian Idol

Television host and actor Mini Mathur has revealed how two separate instances of pregnancy negatively impacted her career at pivotal moments, leading to the loss of hosting opportunities on MTV and the popular reality show Indian Idol. The recently crowned winner of Amazon Prime Video's reality show Alliance, Mathur shared her experiences in a recent interview, highlighting a pattern of what she described as outdated industry attitudes toward working mothers.

Mathur recounted that her contract with MTV was not renewed after she became pregnant with her first child, Vivaan, despite having spent five years with the channel. She stated she was told her contract wouldn't be renewed because "VJs are never pregnant." Mathur felt this decision used her pregnancy as a convenient exit, dismissing the professional value she had built. "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," she said.

A similar situation occurred years later with Indian Idol. Mathur, who had hosted the show's initial seasons, informed the producers she was pregnant with...