At a time when many actors are turning to cosmetic procedures to maintain a youthful appearance, Mallika Sherawat is choosing a different path. She says she has never had Botox or fillers and doesn’t intend to, adding that she would rather focus on being healthy than trying to look 25 forever. She shares, “I have chosen to remain natural. I have not relied on any plastic surgeon. I like the face that I have and I believe there is no shortcut for authenticity and discipline.”

Talking about ageing gracefully, she adds, “I don’t understand why girls are getting convinced that their real faces are not good enough. I don’t want an Instagram face. I want a life that’s worthy of putting on Instagram.”

Mallika shares, “No late nights, no smoking, no alcohol, sleeping early, yoga and pranayama... that’s what I follow. I don’t want to look 25 forever. I simply want to be the healthiest and happiest version of myself at every age.”

On the work front, 13 years after The Bachelorette India: Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika, Mallika is making her reality show comeback with The Traitors. “Initially, I was apprehensive about taking it up. I didn’t want to do any reality shows, but my manager convinced me to do it.”

Mallika says she has been offered Bigg Boss, too, in the past, but it doesn’t excite her. “The format doesn’t appeal to me. I don’t think that as an actor I can bring any value to it. If there’s something I don’t want to do, I simply don’t do it. I’ve been very sensible with my money, and today I don’t have to work just to earn money,” she says.

Looking back at being labelled a sex symbol, Mallika believes perceptions have changed with time. “Every situation has two sides. Today, being called a sex symbol is considered exciting. I genuinely believe I was ahead of my time. Society wasn’t ready then, which is why people found my honesty, glamour and confidence unusual. Today, writers are creating characters like that. But I also don’t understand why people think glamour and depth cannot coexist, or that an outspoken woman cannot be thoughtful. Those are assumptions some people make,” says Mallika, who has been part of films like Murder, The Myth and Pyaar Ke Side Effects.

Despite criticism and controversies throughout her career, Mallika says gratitude has always outweighed resentment. “This industry gave me financial independence, and that is the most important thing for a woman if she wants to live life on her own terms. I’m forever grateful to the industry and even to the women who spoke badly about me — they gave me free publicity and made me even more popular. I studied Philosophy early in life and it changed the way I think. I have so much to be grateful for. Coming from Haryana, meeting US President Barack Obama, walking the Cannes red carpet, working with Jackie Chan and so many incredible people — why would I play victim?” she says.

Ask Mallika, who is single, whether she is looking for love or feels the absence of a companion in her life, and she replies, “It’s not that I’m walking around with a torch looking for love. I don’t feel any emptiness or a void in my life. Why would I give up the admiration of so many men for one companion? I love the attention I get.” (smiles)

Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 11, 2020)

User engagement on social media platforms has witnessed a surge amid the Coronavirus lockdown, and actor Mallika Sherawat is no exception.

Spending a lot of her time online, the actor asserts to have observed a sea change among social media users. “I see a lot of positives on social media these days. People are not pulling each other down anymore. There are less haters. This crisis has made social media a kinder place and made us more compassionate. Social media can really be used to uplift people, if we really want to do that,” she says.

The actor, 43, also talks of striking a balance between online and personal space and insists that despite spending more time on social media, she isn’t overdoing it. “I feel responsible about what I post. I will engage with my fans on social media for a limited time but it does not define my life,” she says.

Sherawat also urges people to maintain a positive outlook amid the ongoing situation. “There is a lot of rumour mongering going on. You must not lose your commons sense and critical thinking at such times. That is how we can avoid a total panic situation,” she says.

She is making the most of this time by focusing on fitness. “I am doing yoga twice daily and have been polishing my pranayam techniques. I am also doing meditation. Besides that, of course I am spending a lot of time with my little nephew, who has turned three recently,” Sherawat shares.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 3, 2018)

 A few weeks ago, BT was the first to tell you that Mallika Sherawat has secured the rights for the Indian adaptation of the Emmy-winning show, ‘The Good Wife’. The actress had even told us that she will headline the cast of the show. BT now has it that the actress, currently in the process of casting for the show, has been approaching top lawyers in the city to get a perspective on the legal system and incorporate it into her court room drama.

“I’ve been watching shows across platforms and some of them have actually set the benchmark really high. So, I want my show to be as real as it gets. The idea is to make some strong statements with this show. We plan to take up contemporary issues like some of the rape cases that have made headlines in recent times. The legal system in India is very different from the one in USA. The idea is to add Indian context to the show and make it relevant to our audience. I’ve also appointed a legal researcher who can guide us on various things on our legal system,” says Mallika.

The actress has even approached top lawyers in the city for their inputs on high profile cases like the Kathua rape case, and a bunch of other social issues, which can help the writers put the story in perspective. “We will do our best because we’re adapting an Emmy-winner. It’s not easy. A lot of people have asked me how I managed to get the rights for The Good Wife and why I am headlining the cast. For me, this is reinvention. It’s is very important for an actress. At this stage of my career, I just can’t imagine myself running around trees,” she adds.

Elaborating on why she decided to adapt the show for the Indian audience, she says, “The Good Wife has aspirational value. It’s relatable for Indian women because the central protagonist here stands by her husband even after he goes wrong. It’s relevant to modern India because the country is brimming with strong, independent women who are running the show across various professional fields. In our adaptation, the central character faces humiliation when she starts at the bottom of the pyramid. That’s our reality, too. Many women will relate to this show because each one will find something familiar with the character. There’s no black or white, only grey shades, as the character makes mistakes and stands by them. She’s as real as any Indian woman.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 28, 2018)

Mallika Sherawat made kissing on screen fashionable back in the early 2000s. However, after a sensational start in Bollywood, she found fewer opportunities to show her acting chops. Today, she’s a Cannes regular, often seen hobnobbing with A-list Hollywood actors at the French Riviera and at key events in America, apart from doing quirky roles in films across the globe. The actress, who is currently in India for a set of professional commitments, is also fronting a social cause that rehabilitates victims of child sex trafficking. In a conversation with BT, she throws light on what drove her to take up the cause, playing strong characters and why India will take long before it gets its own #MeToo campaign. Excerpts:

It’s been three years since your last Hindi film, Dirty Politics, released. Now that there are talks of Welcome 3 being in the pipeline, can we expect you to make a comeback?
Well, I’d love to be a part of Welcome 3. Romancing Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor in the first installment was so much fun. Anees Bazmee is a fabulous director.

You are known for your sultry avatar in all your films. Will you be willing to shed it, if an exciting and challenging offer comes your way?
I don’t want to shed my glamorous image just for the sake of it. I am a very bold person in real life, too. That’s part of my personality and I am comfortable with it. But having said that, I now want to veer towards performance-oriented roles, and wouldn’t even mind playing a vamp. In fact, I’m obsessed with the idea of being a character artiste.

You started out in the early 2000s, when there weren’t as many women-centric films being made. Do you think that there is a marked improvement in the situation today?
I think it’s still a struggle to find a film that is genuinely centred around a woman, though it’s getting better with the new breed of directors. The number of films written with men as the central characters is way higher. What hasn’t changed is that then and even now, people enjoy a heroine being a heroine. However, actresses like Vidya Balan and their choices are exemplary. They’re proving that women can hold a film on their shoulders. Also, the internet has opened a new world to all of us. Today, we have access to content from all over the world. There’s also independent cinema, which caters to the thinking mind.

Soon, you will be seen at Cannes. While your bold outfits are often talked about, your detractors say that you get to be on the coveted red carpet without much mainstream work to your credit…
Why not? I go, because I get invited. I had a chance to hobnob with Barack Obama (former US President) and I did. Why shouldn’t I be there? I don’t focus on detractors; what they say doesn’t matter. I focus on the happy and pleasant things in my life. In fact, it’s fun to have detractors and prove them wrong with twice the might. I feel bad when their numbers reduce. I don’t want their number to dwindle. You see, I’m having a ball in my life. My aim was to be financially independent; it was never to win an Oscar. Most women in my home state (Haryana) don’t even get a chance at life. It’s a gilded cage and so, women like me who’ve managed to get out, are asked how we did it. Today, I’m just very happy that I am financially sound. I can pay my bills and afford this lifestyle. It’s a big deal given where I come from. I give myself a lot of credit for that.

You have joined an initiative, which rehabilitates victims of child prostitution and trafficking. Do you think that your growing-up years in Haryana pushed you to support this cause? Also, do you feel that the perception of the state, after producing talents like Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar and a cross-section of women sportspersons, has seen a change?
Children, especially girls, are being forced into prostitution, which leads to several other crimes. This initiative by School For Justice, among other things, educate rescued girls to become lawyers, who can then fight for themselves and other girls who are being trafficked. Merely rescuing girls is a meaningless process. When I was growing up, I had regressive experiences in childhood. I was only allowed to breathe. That’s it! I wasn’t allowed to go out or pursue hobbies. The fact that my parents could educate me is an exemplary feat on their part. I grew up in the middle of a feudal and patriarchal system. Women were subjected to unheard-of cruelties. When I had spoken openly against this, after the release of Murder (2004), it led to a backlash. At least now, we are in a position to have a conversation on these topics. But I still don’t see a campaign like #MeToo happening in India because of the way people think.

But do you think that if women in India stopped competing with one another, they could find a way to initiate a #MeToo campaign?
Powerful people will have to understand that if a woman is raped, it’s not her fault. They must not blame the woman. Sadly, I’ve also seen certain women practise victim-shaming and blaming. The patriarchal mindset needs to change. Having said that, it’s not just women, as a society, we have a tendency to pull each other down. People love pulling me down; they love to see me fall because it makes them feel happy and justified.

Talking about your personal life, you are in a steady relationship. Is marriage on the cards?
I am not interested in marriage. I don’t want to be a bahu, yaar! Why would I forsake the admiration of so many men for one man? It doesn’t make sense. I do have a man in my life and I am in love. The relationship is a very private aspect of my life. I have great companionship and he’s proud of my choices and my approach to life. That’s what matters…

Mallika Sherawat on the Jat agitation and the possible solutions to the problem
Upala KBR (DNA; February 25, 2016)

Mallika Sherawat belongs to a Jat family. She is from Moth, a village in Haryana’s Hissar district. The actress’s family has been affected by ongoing violent protests by Jats across Haryana, who are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC category. The actress had appealed to the Jat community on Twitter to maintain peace and practise non-violence on the Jat reservation issue in Haryana.

She doesn’t agree with the protesters demands for reservations. She says, “I think you either have reservations for every community or not at all. To give reservations to Jats only is giving one community privilege over others. There should be one rule for everybody. As a community, they are asking for reservations because they feel it’s needed. But why only Jats? If Jats have needs, then every other community’s needs should be taken care of. Why should one get left behind? Everybody should be treated equally.”

The actress feels that violent protests can never bear solution to any problem. “I believe in peace and not violent protests. I think the the biggest measure should be to fix our dysfunctional justice system in India, where it takes 18-20 years for someone to get justice. I believe that justice delayed is justice denied. People protest when they are just pushed into a corner but instead if there’s an effort to redress all their grievances, they won’t take these extreme measures. I strongly feel that, no matter what issue any citizen of India has, it is the responsibility of the government to listen to them, but without threatening them. We are a democracy after all.”

Always one to speak up about women’s rights, she says it’s a universal problem, this time around. “Everybody is being affected. I spoke to my family in Haryana and they sounded disturbed. They have suffered huge loss of property. Our shops and a movie theatre have been burned down. They are trying to cope with this huge loss and move on. It’s a faulty system.”

Mallika Sherawat on her past, present and future and the need to reinvent her image
Upala KBR (DNA; January 25, 2016)


She also recently featured in a music video Dil Kya Kare (Did I Love You?) by New York-based singer DASU. And while most actresses are singing, she chooses not to jump on the bandwagon. Here she talks about being sterotyped, her future plans, and her disappearance from B-Town.

You have been MIA!
I haven’t really vanished anywhere. I have been shooting for Hong Kong-based writer, director and art-director Daniel Lee’s Lost Tomb in China. I play an evil sorceress. Though it’s not fun playing one in icy -10C temperature! My role is a completely evil one and I love it (laughs). There’s a lot of CGI and martial arts in it. The irony of it is that I am learning Sanskrit from a Chinese coach who is a follower of Buddhism.

You have shifted base from here. Are you still interested in acting in Hindi films?
Why wouldn’t I want to act in Bollywood films? It’s my bread and butter and made me who I am. It’s also made me very rich, especially the item songs I have done (laughs). I feel today that I have been stereotyped into the glamorous image. It’s just that at this stage, I feel I have done lots of glamorous films and item songs so right now, it’s very important to reinvent myself.

What about item songs? What’s next after Mayya Mayya, Ghaghra, Laila, Shalu Ke Thumke and Jalebi Bai?
No, I don’t want to do any more item songs. I have done enough of those and built a career from them. I have made enough money and fame from them but now it’s time to do serious parts. I love being an actor and I am very vocal and passionate about female equality and female rights. In 2014, I was invited as a Bollywood actress and activist of women’s rights to talk on equality, where I met the UN head in New York and spoke about the suffering of women in India, saying strong implementation of laws is required and men should be part of the solution to end discrimination against women. I love doing that.

Do you keep in touch with Bollywood? What recent films have you liked?
I loved Masaan, it’s fabulous that we are making such kick-ass cinema in India today. The director was phenomenal. What a story! I want to be part of a cinema that is so much more exciting. I am inspired by films like Queen, Kahaani and Ishqiya and I loved Anushka’s NH10. I would love to do a movie like that. Have faith, I can can pull it off really well. I want to do films like that. But my glamourous image is so strong that it’s a big challenge to add balance to it.

You were spotted at Salman Khan’s birthday bash recently. Any plans to work together?
(Laughs) If he wants me to work with him in a film, I will. He was kind enough to invite me to his birthday party and of course I had to go. Of course, it was a struggle to stay awake till so late (laughs) as I go to sleep early. I am very friendly with his sister Alvira. Salman’s designer is close to me too as we move around in the same gang.

Any young actor you would like to work with?
No actor, in particular. For me, it’s always been about the script and the role.

Let’s talk about your music video.
This is my first Indian music video. I have earlier shot for one for Bruno Mars’s Whatta Man (2012). I had no idea about Dil Kya Kare. I did it only for my friend Namita Premkumar. She came and told me ‘You have to do this for me please!’ I said I will do it. The song was wonderful. Thanks to my vegan lifestyle and yoga, I didn’t have to work out much. I like to act in videos as I get to play different characters. I get to play a girl-next-door in this one — it’s a fresh, romantic image and reminded me of Pyar Ke Side/Effects.

Priyanka Chopra’s journey seems similar to yours. From here to LA. Comment?
I really don’t know about that, so I can’t comment. I have not seen Quantico, but I think she’s doing extremely well as an Indian actress in Hollywood. All of us should be proud of her and what’s she achieved there. Hats off to her! We are all so proud of her.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2015)