00:00 In the grand tapestry of life, some dream and some redefine.
00:06 Meet Mallika Sagar, a woman from the bustling streets of Mumbai who dared to dream and is
00:11 now poised to redefine history.
00:14 Her journey into the world of auctioneering began as a teenage dream, sparked by the pages
00:19 of a book featuring a female auctioneer.
00:22 Fast forward three decades and Mallika stands at the pinnacle of her career, making history
00:27 as the first female auctioneer at the Indian Premier League's 2024 auction in Dubai.
00:34 Sagar was born into a business family in the capital of India's Maharashtra state and has
00:39 lived in the city since her return from the United States, where she graduated with a
00:44 degree in the history of art.
00:46 Now, a specialist in modern art and an auctioneer at a privately owned Mumbai-based auction
00:51 house, she has long been a path-breaker on the global art auctioneering circuit.
00:57 In 2001, she became the first female auctioneer of Indian origin at the international art
01:02 and luxury business, Christie's.
01:05 Sagar takes over the reins from former IPL auctioneer, Edmaids, who conducted four IPL
01:10 auctions from 2019 through to 2022.
01:14 She credits Edmaids with introducing her to the Indian sports auctioneering landscape.
01:18 In a conversation at her Mumbai office, Mallika shares that auctioneering is not about gender
01:24 but about responsibility and skills.
01:27 Her transition from the art world to the sports arena was not without its challenges.
01:32 But Mallika embraced the unknown delving into the pro kabaddi league and then making her
01:36 mark in the women's premier league.
01:39 So, what does it take to make a good auctioneer?
01:42 According to Mallika, the 48-year-old woman, "Depending on what you are selling, you have
01:48 to dream the mechanics of the auctioneering process and blend it with the math, theatre
01:53 and drama, all wrapped up in a smile."
01:56 - Mallika Sagar, IPL Auctioneer, India.
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