Mallika Sherawat | |
|---|---|
 Sherawat at the2014 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | Reema Lamba (1976-10-24)24 October 1976 (age 48) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | |
Reema Lamba (born 24 October 1976[1][2]), better known asMallika Sherawat, is an Indian actress who predominantly works inHindi language films. Known for her bold onscreen portrayal in films likeKhwahish (2003) andMurder (2004),[3] Sherawat has established herself as asex symbol inBollywood.[4] She is also known for appearing in several popularitem numbers.[5][6]
Sherawat's role in the romantic comedyPyaar Ke Side Effects (2006) was well-received.[7][8] She subsequently starred inAap Ka Suroor,Welcome (both 2007),Dasavathaaram (2008) — her biggest commercial success so far — andDouble Dhamaal (2011). Apart from Indian films, she has appeared in theChinese filmsThe Myth (2005) andTime Raiders (2016).[9] She was one of the few Bollywood stars trying to cross over toHollywood,[10][11] with films likeHisss (2010) andPolitics of Love (2011).[12]
Sherawat was born as Reema Lamba in Moth,[13] a small village inHisar district ofHaryana to aJat family.[14] Mallika's father is Mukesh Kumar Lamba and she was born in the family ofSeth Chhaju Ram, a leading Jatphilanthropist.[15] She adopted the screen name of "Mallika", meaning "empress", to avoid confusion with other actresses named Reema.[16] "Sherawat" is her mother's maiden name.[17] She has stated that she uses her mother's maiden name because of the support that her mother has provided her.[16] Although relations with her family were strained when she entered the film industry,[18] Sherawat's family has now accepted her career choice and they have reconciled.[15]
Sherawat went toDelhi Public School, Mathura Road.[19] She has a degree inphilosophy fromMiranda House,Delhi University.[20] During the initial days of her career, she claimed to be from a very conservative small-town family and that she faced many hurdles from them in pursuing her career.[21] However, Sherawat's family has rebutted this as a story created by her to give her an aura of a rustic girl who made it big in Bollywood.[18]
Before entering films, Sherawat appeared in television commercials withAmitabh Bachchan forBPL andShah Rukh Khan forHyundai Santro.[22][23] She also appeared inNirmal Pandey's "Maar Dala" andSurjit Bindrakhia's "Lak Tunoo" music video.[24] She debuted in films with a small rôle inJeena Sirf Merre Liye where she was credited as Reema Lamba.[25]
Sherawat attracted notice with her appearance in the 2003 film,Khwahish. In 2004, she starred inMurder, a film inspired by Hollywood'sUnfaithful. She was noticed for her bold role with critic Narbir Gosal writing, "she has the chops to pull off a role like this one. She´s confident and sexy as Simran and handles her emotional scenes with dignity."[26] She received a nomination for 'Best Actress' at theZee Cine Awards for her performance inMurder. The film went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year.[27]
Since then, Sherawat has been known for expressing her opinions in public, as well for the reaction to some of her statements.[28]
In 2005, Sherawat acted inThe Myth, a Chinese film, co-starring withJackie Chan. She played an Indian girl who saves Chan's character from a river.The Myth was her first international film. Her appearance at theCannes Film Festival[29] to promote the film secured a lot of attention, withTime magazine'sRichard Corliss calling her "the next big thing."[30]
Her performance in the 2006 filmPyaar Ke Side Effects, co-starringRahul Bose, won her praise from around the industry,[31] with critic Raja Sen commenting, "Mallika steals the show with her disarming candour."[7] and the film did moderately well at the box office.[32]
Her first release in 2007 wasMani Ratnam'sGuru, in which she performed the song "Mayya Mayya." She played a guest role inHimesh Reshammiya'sAap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story and reportedly charged Rs. 15 million for a 10-minute appearance.[33] Her last release of 2007 wasWelcome, which did exceptionally well at the box office. Her performance received very favourable reviews with noted film criticTaran Adarsh writing, "Mallika Sherawat is electrifying."[34][35]
Her 2008 releases wereUgly Aur Pagli andMaan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam. Both were unsuccessful at the box office. Sherawat's next Bollywood release wasDouble Dhamaal, which went on to becoming a moderate success at the box office, receiving 'above average' status at the box office, by Box Office India. She also appeared initem numbers in films such asThank You (Razia Gundon Mein Phas Gayi),Bin Bulaye Baraati (Shalu Ke Thumkey) and inOsthe (Kalasala), which is a Tamil film. In 2012, she was featured in an item number inTezz (Laila). Sherawat has also performed inKismat Love Paisa Dilli, in which she will be playing a Haryanvi.[36]
On 23 October 2013 Mallika staring reality dating show calledBachelorette India - Mere Khayalon ki Mallika was aired which was adopted fromThe Bachelorette to find the perfect bachelor for herself.[37][38]
In 2009, Sherawat starred in a Hollywood film namedHisss, co-starringIrrfan Khan and directed byJennifer Lynch. The story, based on the legend ofNāga, is an independent co-production between the United States and India.[10] Endeavour Independent bought the distribution rights ofHisss.[39] Sherawat promoted it with live snakes at theCannes Film Festival 2010.[40]Hisss was released in all major Indian languages on 22 October 2010.[citation needed]
Sherawat starred in another Hollywood film,Politics of Love, akaLove, Barack, directed byWilliam Dear.[41] She plays Aretha Gupta, a devoted local Obama volunteer coordinator. The film is a romantic comedy set duringBarack Obama's campaign for the US presidency. A first look ofLove, Barack was unveiled by Sherawat at Cannes 2010.[42] It was released in 2011.
Sherawat won the 2008 Renaissance Artist Award at the 16th Annual Diversity Awards held inCalifornia.[43] On 14 August 2009, Sherawat receivedhonorary citizenship ofLos Angeles in recognition of her career achievements and charitable work.[44]
In 2012 Sherawat featured with American pop starBruno Mars in his parody video ofSalt-n-Pepa's "Whatta Man" for the comedy websiteFunny or Die.[45]
During her brief stint as an air hostess, Sherawat married Delhi-based pilot Karan Singh Gill in 1997. She later divorced him.[46][47] She kept her marriage a secret as the stigma of divorce would've prevented her rise in Bollywood.[46] She datedFrench real estate agent Cyrille Auxenfans in 2017.[48]
Sherawat has been involved withwomen's rights activism, discussing women's issues at the 65th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2014.[50] During the2018 Cannes Film Festival, Sherawat had herself locked in a cage for twelve hours to support the Free A Girl IndiaNGO.[51][52]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Jeena Sirf Merre Liye | Seema | Special appearance; credited as Reema Lamba | |
| 2003 | Khwahish | Lekha Khorzuvekar | ||
| 2004 | Kis Kis Ki Kismat | Meena Madhok | ||
| 2004 | Murder | Simran Saigal | ||
| 2005 | Bachke Rehna Re Baba | Padmini a.k.a. Paddu/Alka/Meera | ||
| 2005 | The Myth | Samantha | Chinese film | |
| 2006 | Pyaar Ke Side Effects | Trisha Mallick | ||
| 2006 | Shaadi Se Pehle | Sania | ||
| 2006 | Darna Zaroori Hai | Riya | ||
| 2007 | Guru | Champa | Special appearance initem number | |
| 2007 | Aap Ka Suroor - The Real Love Story | Ruby James | ||
| 2007 | Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide | Special appearance in item number Kannada film | ||
| 2007 | Welcome | Ishika | ||
| 2008 | Dasavathaaram | Jasmine | Tamil film | |
| 2008 | Ugly Aur Pagli | Kuhumini | ||
| 2008 | Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam | Shabnam | ||
| 2010 | Hisss | Naagin | English,Hindi crossover film | |
| 2011 | Thank You | Razia | Special appearance in item number | [53] |
| 2011 | Bin Bulaye Baraati | Shalu | Special appearance in item number | |
| 2011 | Double Dhamaal | Kamini Nayak | ||
| 2011 | Politics of Love | Aretha Gupta | English film | [54] |
| 2011 | Osthe | Mallika | Special appearance in item number Tamil film | |
| 2012 | Tezz | Laila | Special appearance in item number | [55] |
| 2012 | Kismat Love Paisa Dilli | Lovina | ||
| 2015 | Dirty Politics | Anokhi Devi | ||
| 2016 | Time Raiders | Snake Empress | Chinese film | |
| 2017 | Zeenat | Ananta | ||
| 2022 | RK/RKay | Gulabo/Neha | ||
| 2024 | Pambattam | Mangamma Devi | Tamil film | [56] |
| Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video | Chanda Rani | [57] |
| Year | Television | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Sarabhai vs Sarabhai | Sunehri | Season 1, Episode 28[58] |
| 2013 | The Bachelorette India | Herself | Season 1 |
| 2014 | Hawaii Five-0 | Farah Khan | Season 4, Episode 21 |
| 2018 | The Story | Self | [59] |
| 2019 | Booo Sabki Phategi | Hassena, the walking ghost | Web series |
| 2021 | Nakaab | Zohra Mehra | Series[60] |
| Year | Title | Singer(s) | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Bruno Mars'Whatta Man " | Salt-N-Pepa | Girl with gun (heroine) | [61] |
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| Year | Film | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Murder | Zee Cine Award | Best Actor – Female | Nominated |
| 2005 | Murder | Stardust Award | Superstar of Tomorrow – Female | Nominated |
| 2007 | Pyaar Ke Side Effects | Stardust Award | Star of the Year – Female | Nominated |
| 2007 | Pyaar Ke Side Effects | Annual Central European Bollywood Awards | Best Actress | Nominated[62] |
| 2008 | 16th Annual Diversity Awards | Renaissance Artist Award | Won | |
| 2009 | Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam | Screen Award | Screen Award for Best Comedian | Nominated |
| 2011 | Hisss | Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest | Best Actress | Won[63] |
| 2015 | 23rd Kalakar Awards | International Youth Icon Award | Won[citation needed] | |
| 2015 | Dirty Politics | Indian Film Festival Melbourne | Best Actress | Nominated[64] |
| 2016 | Dirty Politics | Screen Award | Best Actress (Popular Choice) | Nominated[65] |
Mallika chips in, "We Jats, Dharamji and I, will set the screens on fire!"
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat highlighted the sufferings of women in India at the 65th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference, saying strong implementation of laws is required and men should be part of the solution to end discrimination against women.
Mallika Sherawat locked herself in a cage to promote a campaign called Free A Girls during her Cannes 2018 tour[dead YouTube link]
Mallika Sherawat has made her presence felt at Cannes this year. The 'Murder' girl who walked the red carpet a day before, locked herself up in a cage as part of Lock-Me-Up campaign at Cannes. The actress has been representing an NGO in raising awareness about forced child prostitution and trafficking.
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)
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