Mallika Sherawat said that aspersions were cast on her character after she did bold scenes in Murder. She added that she was ‘seen as a fallen woman’.
After 17 years Mallika Sherawat is finally opening up about the pressures she felt as a newcomer in the industry. talking to a ETimes she said, “When I acted in Murder, i was almost morally assassinated for those scenes I shot; i used to be seen as a fallen woman. Today, those things I did earlier are common in our films. People’s perceptions have changed. Our cinema has changed.”
Mallika will next be seen in RK/RKAY featuring Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Kubbra Sait, and hopes that it’ll break the sex symbol mould that she was restricted to: “It is that the perfect opportunity to start out the process of reinvention, and have people see me in a more etched-out role. It’s fulfilling to start a new adventure, a new inning. I hope people see what I can give. in the past, people have judged me and seen me with a particular mindset. Even after working in films like Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Dasavathaaram (2008), I got typecast. As an actor, I could only choose the best from what was offered.”
Mallika believes that Hindi cinema and the audience has changed over the years and how their perception has shifted. She even talked about her love for cinema of the 50s and 60s and further added, “But even now, when I consider it, nothing beats the cinema of the 50s and 60s. We had wonderful roles for ladies, but we lack that beauty in our films in a big way. I have waited for years to get a role that has substance.”
She also talked about how cinema is changing in terms of genuine and meaningful parts for ladies and said: “I definitely see a big change and that’s because of streaming platforms, which are a boon. But even there, how many films and shows does one come across that genuinely have enough and good, meaningful parts for women? Yes, it’s changing, but there are only a few projects for women as compared to what they make for men. we need more movies where women play key characters.”
When asked about her career plans, Mallika answered: “I want to play meaningful roles. I have missed doing that. People were approaching me for very glamorous roles, with a lot of money, but no soul in the character or meaning to it. It’s important to reinvent yourself after a period of time. If I do the same things that I have done before, you’ll only get vintage Mallika.”
Mallika Sherawat made her Bollywood debut with the movie Khwahish in 2003 and went on to star in Murder in 2004. Both movies featured Mallika in intimate scenes, which were then rare in a Bollywood film.
