Mallika Sherawat's Shocking Admission: Bollywood Tried to Shame Her for This One Thing

Mallika Sherawat has made her return to the big screen with the newly released film Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, a comedy that sees her take on a significant role alongside an ensemble cast comprising Rajkummar Rao, Triptii Dimri, Vijay Raaz, and others. Known for her bold performances, the actress recently spoke out about the difficulties she faced following the success of her film Murder with Emraan Hashmi. While the film helped establish her in the industry, the resulting fame brought its own challenges, particularly from her peers in Bollywood.

Talking to Ranveer Allahbadia on his podcast, Mallika Sherawat shared her thoughts on the impact of Murder on her career and personal life. "Murder gave me stardom, but most importantly, it gave me economic independence. For me, winning awards was never the goal. What mattered was being able to live life on my own terms and make decisions, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. Fame is just a byproduct," she said.

Mallika also discussed how people's attitudes towards her changed with the popularity of Murder. She said, "Murder changed everything. Suddenly, everyone recognised me, and their attitude toward me shifted. Fame back then was much bigger. In the early 2000s, I carved out a space for myself, but today’s newcomers have to deal with a different reality. No matter how big a hit a film is, it fades from memory within two weeks because of the tsunami of content."

The actress also spoke about taking on roles that were different from those of her peers and how the industry at the time wasn't prepared for the type of characters she portrayed. She added, "The culture wasn’t ready for me back then, and it wasn’t ready for Murder either. Only now has Bollywood caught up to where I was in 2004. At that time, actresses were expected to follow a certain code of conduct. They were shy, while I was unapologetic. With Murder, a femme fatale was introduced."

Sherawat revealed that she faced condescension from some of her peers in the industry. She stated, "There are some big-name actresses in Bollywood whose names I won’t take, but they were condescending to my face." It was during this challenging time that she sought solace from her mentor, Mahesh Bhatt.

"I ran to him crying, and he told me, ‘So many sluts in Bollywood, one more won’t matter.’ There was so much slut-shaming. They wanted to make me feel ashamed of the bold scenes I did," she said. Her experience is a testament to the challenges that many actresses face in the industry, where they are often judged for their choices and subjected to unfair criticism.

Despite the challenges she faced, Mallika Sherawat has continued to pave her own path in the industry. Her latest film, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, is a testament to her enduring talent and dedication to her craft. As she continues to take on new and exciting roles, it is clear that she remains a force to be reckoned with in Bollywood.