Madhu Mailankody

“What made you choose anchoring as a profession?”

It’s a question I’ve been asked time and again — by both curious youngsters and seasoned elders. And every single time, I pause and ask myself: Did I choose anchoring, or did it choose me?

There were many reasons why I never imagined myself in this line of work. For starters, I was pursuing a Master’s in Media and Communication, with a clear focus on building a career in Public Relations. Secondly, I didn’t even know that compering for non-television events was an actual profession!

But life had other plans.

The college I had pinned my hopes on crushed my dream of becoming a PR professional. Despite performing well academically (I topped in the first year, for whatever that was worth), the college refused to offer the specialisation I had enrolled for — citing lack of interest from other students. I was told to choose between print media or broadcast. I wanted neither.

Disheartened, I stayed away from college for a few days, trying to figure out my next step. Around that time, a friend asked me to host a talent hunt across a few colleges for a corporate brand. I had dabbled in anchoring and voiceovers in school and college, so I decided to go for it — without overthinking.

Ten days later, the event wrapped up successfully. I received my first cheque — and, unexpectedly, another offer to host for a few more brands.

I was thrilled. I enjoyed hosting — and it paid!

Still, I made one last effort to convince the college to let me specialise in Corporate Communication. After all, that was the reason I’d enrolled in the first place. But the answer was still no.

My dream, my time, my money — none of it seemed to matter.

So I made a choice:

I quit.

I walked away from my master’s programme, telling myself I’d try again the following year at a better institution. Until then, I’d live one day at a time — and take up hosting gigs whenever they came my way.

But that next year never came. I never returned to academics. Instead, I kept anchoring. And I kept growing — personally, professionally, passionately.

And the greatest irony? I had rejected the college’s push toward a specialisation in broadcast — and yet, today, I proudly work as a broadcaster with the Star Sports Network.

So again I ask:
Who chose whom?
I still don’t really know.

But what I do know is — I wouldn’t have it any other way.