Mallika Sherawat made her comeback with Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, co-starring Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimr. She became a sensation in the early 2000s, breaking barriers in Hindi cinema with her bold choices in films like Khwahish and Murder. However, her rise to fame was not without its challenges, as she faced backlash from her peers.
Mallika talks about her struggles in industry
Despite her success, Mallika often found herself on the receiving end of ‘condescension’ from fellow actresses. Recently, in a candid interview, she revealed that many stars in the industry were dismissive of her, making her feel isolated in her journey.
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She told Ranveer Allahbadia, “They were very condescending to me on my face. There are a few very big actresses, whose name I won’t take, but they were all condescending to me on my face. I went crying to Mahesh Bhatt because he was my mentor.”
“They would say, ‘So many sl*ts in Bollywood, one more’. There was a lot of sl*t-shaming. They wanted me to feel ashamed of myself and the bold scenes I did. In a way, they wanted me to feel ashamed of the success of Murder,” she added.
Additionally, Mallika expressed her struggle against objectification, explaining how her on-screen image led some men in the industry to view her as merely an object rather than a talented actress.
“One of the negative things happened to me after all this is that men thought, ‘If she can do such bold scenes on-screen, why will she object to come with us?’ I had to deal with this a lot. People forget that your personal life and professional life are two different things. It was a big hurdle for me and it still is,” she concluded.
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Mallika emphasised her refusal to conform to the industry’s demands, stating, “I would not subject myself to someone’s whims and fancies.” This determination, while admirable, also limited her opportunities in a space that often prioritises conformity over individuality.
