Nagra was born to Sikh immigrants from the Punjab region of northern India. Her middle name, meaning “Princess,” is traditionally given to Sikh women.
Nagra recalls her years growing up in the Belgrave district of Leicester as a “great childhood.”
Nagra attended Northfield House Primary School in Leicester, where as a six-year-old she was in her first play, War of the Worlds.
At the age of seven, Nagra suffered a burn that resulted in a scar on her leg ; the scar was later incorporated into the story line of her 2002 breakout film Bend It Like Beckham.

Mandira Bedi has been busy doing everything else but acting on television. So is she missing it? After the World Cup, Mandira Bedi’s back in action! And this time, she will be seen as part of the jury for cricket talent hunt show Dreamjob .

“The first set of auditions are starting in Delhi soon and I’ll be on my feet then,” she says excitedly. The reason Mandira’s so eager to be doing this show, is because she’s getting to do what she loves best - being connected with cricket. “A week after the World Cup got over, I got a call from the channel to be a part of this show. I was really happy because I wanted to keep my connect with cricket,” says Mandira. But if you thought the ever-on-her-feet Mandy was relaxing in this little break, think again! “These 12 years that I have been working, I have never taken a break. Even if I get two days off, I drive my husband mad because I don’t know what to do with myself!” she laughs. But Mandira admits that these few months since “her disastrous World Cup” have been a kind of a break for her. “But I’ve been doing lots! I started taking pottery classes - it’s a wonderful therapy. Then I’ve been learning Gurmukhi and next, I want to learn to play the tabla. I’m enjoying life more than ever now,” she adds. And on the workfront, Mandira says that these days, she’s not being offered acting roles. “People have forgotten I acted on television!” she laughs and adds, “I don’t get acting offers on TV anymore.” The last that one saw of her acting skills on the telly screen was in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as the evil, scheming Mandira. Wouldn’t she like to act on TV again? “Not unless I’m offered something like Shanti . She was an inspiring character. I think we should be responsible about what we are portraying on the screen. If it’s a regressive character, then I definitely wouldn’t do it,” she replies. Surprisingly, the South has woken up to her, she laughs. “I’m getting offers for Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. The Tamil one I’m definitely going to do,” she says. And when does all that leave time to start a family? “Well, I do want to go the family way,” she smiles and adds, “One is looking in that direction.”
[via times of india]