Mallika Sherawat Biography

Mallika Sherawat Biography  
Birth Name
Reema Lambha

Nickname
Bollywood's Kissing Queen

Height
5' 6½" (1.69 m)

Spouse
Karan Singh Gill (2000 - 2001) (divorced)

Trivia
Bears a resemblance to actress Halle Berry.

Has a degree in Philosophy from Miranda House, Delhi University.

Some of her favorite films are Sholay (1975), Silsila (1981) and Masoom (1983).

Is the first Indian woman to get an offer to pose nude for Playboy magazine and appear on the cover. Mallika turned down the offer in an attempt to avoid the risk of being blacklisted in the Indian film industry.

The cost of the diamonds that Mallika wore at the Cannes Film Festival 2005 was Rs 45 million. They were sponsored by Orra Diamonds. Nine sets of jewelery were especially designed for Mallika, including diamond studded necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Changed her name from Reema Lamba to Mallika Sherawat when she did her first film, Khwahish (2003). She claims to have changed it because there were already too many actresses in the industry with similar names like Reema Sen, Raima Sen, and Rimii Sen.

She accepted the Advisory Board membership of the Asian Academy of film and television supporting the film education in India.

In April 2006, Mallika went on her first world tour of concert performances called Rock Stars along with Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Zayed Khan, Esha Deol, and John Abraham.

Turned down the role of Sira in Private Moments (2005).

Although little about her past is known, she has admitted that she was once married prior to entering the film industry.

Listed as number 9 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)

Listed #4 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/2006).

Her performance at the televised 2006 New Year's Eve show at the hotel J.W. Marriot, in Mumbai, caused social activist Vinod Jain to urge police to take immediate action against the actress for wearing suggestive clothing. Mallika was dressed in a body-hugging skin suit and a silver bikini to top it. He said that Mallika's dancing was distasteful and and portrayed Indian women indecently. Jain approached the Santa Cruz police station about the matter, but they told him that no one filed a complaint against her.

Was invited and attended the wedding of Princess Myasa, King Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa's daughter, in Qatar. Mallika is good friends with the Princess. (Jan 2007).

Is estranged from her parents and family, who are very religious and don't agree with Mallika working in the movies.

After graduating from college, Mallika got married to Karan Singh Gill, a pilot for Jet Airways. The marriage quickly ended in divorce. It was after the divorce that Mallika, then known as Reema, decided to try her luck at movies.

For a while, Mallika worked as an air hostess.

In April 2009, Mallika was honored for her work in the field of arts by Mayor Jerramiah T Healy of Jersey City, New Jersey. She was given the Team Jersey City's Arts Honree for this year award.

Was made an honorary citizen of Los Angeles in 2009. She was made an honorary citizen by the Los Angeles City Council during a celebration of India's Independence Day.


Personal Quotes
"I've slogged like crazy to get where I am. And those who think it's just my body that got me where I am, they should take a look at the others who have rushed in after me. They haven't gone beyond their first feverish film".

"I have always looked up to Bipasha and she has certainly opened a lot of doors for many actresses like us. But I don't want to compete against anyone. I think I am one of a kind".

"I have always wanted to be an actress. In spite of strong opposition from my orthodox family, I came to Mumbai in 2002 on completion of my graduation from Delhi University. In fact, I ran off from home to pursue my career. I knew my parents would never let me be an actress, so I had to take the bold step. However, I have a strong support from my kid brother Vikram, whom I love more than anything else in this world."

"I would like to say I handle criticism well. In fact I enjoy reading the comments of the critics. It's great to have critics blasting you all the time. It keeps you on your toes, spurs you, challenges you, makes you want to get better. I take everything positively. There's so much to learn and do." (Movie Mag International, September 2004)

On her film, The Myth (2005): I may not be here to titillate, but I am not sorry if I have that edge. People aren't coming to the theaters to see me in a burqa". (Movie Mag International, September 2004)

"I had a song with Tusshar Kapoor in _Jeena Sirf Merre Liye_(2002) and they cut it. I'm so happy nobody went to the theaters to watch the film. The only people who must have watched the film were Tusshar's family, my family and Kareena's".(Stardust, March 2003)

"I graduated from Delhi, and came down to Bombay to try my hand at films. I always wanted to be an actress. I'd ape all the actresses before the mirror even when it was forbidden in my community. Wide-eyed as I may sound, it's a dream come true, yaar! I remember when I disclosed my career option to my folks, all hell broke loose. My father is a zamindar back home. So you can imagine all the fuss. And my mom, she still wears a ghunghat." (Stardust, March 2003)

On attending the Cannes Film Festival: "It was a surreal experience. There were thousands of photographers, and it seemed like an endless sea of flashbulbs was popping everywhere. They all kept screaming, 'Jackie, Mallika, Jackie, Mallika! The first thought that flashed through my mind was, 'Where did my journey begin and look where I am today'. It seems a really long trip from Rohtak to Cannes. The walk down the red carpet on Jackie Chan's arm, dining with Salma Hayek, George Lucas, Harry Weinstein....meeting them, sharing a conversation with them. And these are people I admire so much, they are the who's who of the world cinema and I was meeting them in the flesh! I felt a great sense of achievement. I felt so important there. And I wasn't there in Cannes as a model or anything like that. Jackie Chan launched me there as an actress! I made my debut in Cannes! Madonna made her first statement in Cannes when she wore the conical bra, Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly were launched there..." (Cine Bliitz magazine, July 2005)

"Isn't it great that I evoke a reaction from people? Whether it is good or bad is secondary. The thing is that I like being myself. I find it very tiresome to put up a fake smile, say the right things, be diplomatic. It's just not in my personality to be like that." (Cine Bliitz magazine, July 2005)

"Who cares what people say about me? I am right on the ball. And I don't think one should take oneself too seriously. Be like the laughing Buddha, I always say, smile through life! It will immediately look better!" (Cine Bliitz magazine, July 2005)

"I never wanted to belong to a crowd. I never had a herd mentality...I always knew what I wanted and I made sure I got it. And I always knew that I wanted to be an actress. I exist because I can act. I will not sit here and say, 'Arrey, by chance, offer aa gaya' (I got the offer by chance). No, I made acting happen to me. The first opportunity I got to act, I grabbed it. Nobody had even heard of me till a couple of years ago. But it's by sheer hard work and focus that I am here. Also, I think I chose the right scripts. Like Robert De Niro says, 'Talent is in the choice you make!'." (Cine Bliitz magazine, July 2005)

"My family doesn't understand the concept of going to Cannes. My mother keeps telling all my relatives, 'Oh, woh kahin gayi hain' (she has gone somewhere). I don't even try and explain to her what Cannes was all about, because she will not understand. When they saw my outfits, their eyes popped out of thier sockets, that's what got their attention!" (Cine Bliitz magazine, July 2005)

"If a chemical drug like Viagra is accepted by society and by the world to ignite desire, then what is the problem with my audio-visual drug called cinema which ignites desire? Both are basically doing the same thing!" (Cine Blitz magazine, May 2006)

On being criticized for doing kissing scenes: "For God's sake, I am a young girl. Do I look like a nun to you? If the hero can enjoy the kiss, why can't I? And to top it all Himanshu (Khwahish (2003)) is very good looking."