Mallika Sherawat – The New Bollywood Bombshell

Move over, Aishwarya Rai! A new, pretty and talented woman has arrived in town, and she’s not going to be leaving any time soon. Mallika Sherawat, who is full of talent, raw energy and sex appeal, has been making numerous appearances since claiming Los Angeles as her new home.

Asiance had an exclusive opportunity to talk with the busy Mallika to know a little more about the sizzling Bollywood actress.

ASIANCE: I read somewhere that you first started out as a model, what made you decide to try acting?

Mallika: I modeled a little when I first got into the industry, but I had so much to say that inanimate photographs just couldn’t do the trick — so I “leapt” from the printed page into two-dimensional cinema to express myself more fully! Actually, acting was always the main goal. I didn’t do very much modeling in the beginning, but I learned a lot from it. It’s a different craft than acting but they are related in some ways. I do a lot of “modeling” now for photographs that promote my films, and sometimes to sell products.

ASIANCE: What are your thoughts and feelings about recently being recognized as the hottest Indian actress by a poll in the Times of India?

Mallika: When I heard about the poll and saw the pictures, my first thought was, “Damn, she’s hot!!” Joking! I joke about it mainly because I’m a little shy (believe it or not!), but it’s very flattering and always nice to be favorably recognized, especially when it’s a poll voted on by people. They’re the reason I’m able to do what I do. I’m all theirs!

Mallika Sherawat

ASIANCE: There has been some news that you are becoming more of the representative face of India in the West than Bollywood actress, Aishwarya Rai. How do you feel about that statement?

Mallika: I feel great about it! Ash is one of a kind. She paved the way for us Desi chicks in the west, and maybe now it’s time to go further and build the skyscrapers! To be considered by the west as her successor I think has a lot to do with the amount of time I’m spending here recently, with my film “Hiss” in post-production in LA, and my next few projects shooting here — but no one can take anything away from Ash. She and I represent different faces of India, of which there are many.

ASIANCE: Recently, you made Hollywood history for being the first Bollywood star to be officially recognized by the City of Los Angeles as an honorary citizen. How is life in Los Angeles? What were your thoughts when you received such a rare honor?

Mallika: When they told me I was going to be the first Bollywood star “officially recognized by Hollywood” with a Resolution in my name signed by the Mayor and the entire City Council in the council chambers at City Hall… I nearly fainted! Really, it took my breath away! It was an incredible honor that truly made me proud of my heritage; because it’s the millions of Desis who came to the west before me that really represent this recognition. NRIs around the world and here in the U.S. have succeeded in ways I can only hope to emulate. They were the inspiration for me coming here, and I’m so proud to follow in their footsteps.

ASIANCE: One interesting fact I found out about you is that alot of people have dubbed you as the individual to have brought the Twitter craze to India. What is it about Twitter that is enticing? And, how did you “bring” the Twitter craze to India, as claimed by people?

Mallika: It all started when Twitter invited me to their offices. As the first star from Asia to be invited, it was a very special honor for me. The celeb invited before me was P. Diddy, and the person who went after me was Arnold Schwarzenegger! Twitter asked me to speak to the employees, who were all very cool people, and then I taught some dance moves to them — even the guys who run the company, Evan Williams and Biz Stone, were dancing to Bollywood music! I had been tweeting from LA for a little while, which was really great because I felt connected to my home, family, friends and fans in India, but then news started to break that I was on Twitter and “tweeting” alot, so the press would reprint my tweets and then they say lots more people in India joined Twitter, and more B-wood people started tweeting — but I don’t think I should be given all the credit for the Twitter craze in India, there were certainly many people doing it there before me and they should totally be recognized as the true pioneers — maybe my involvement was part of a “tipping point” as Twitter became more mainstream in India.
Someone tweeted me recently that I “definitely made Twitter more sexy.”
Whatever I did, I’m glad I did it.

ASIANCE: It has been stated that you use your mother’s maiden last name because of how supportive your mother has been of you. How has she been an influence on you and your career?

Mallika: She’s been there for me through it all. My mom’s a very strong woman.
When I was first starting out and gaining some success, it was not easy for my family, mainly because the attention I was getting as a “bombshell” was about as far from “traditional” as you can get. I come from a traditional Indian family, and the fact that she eventually supported this journey I’m on was a big deal to me. I know it couldn’t have been easy for her. But it was all worth it. Now, I suspect she enjoys some of the perks that go along with being the mother of a movie star!

ASIANCE: Currently, the last movie you have been working in is “Hiss.” Can you talk a little about that?

Mallika: “Hiss” is a big project for me. It’s an East-West collaboration that will be unlike anything ever seen in Bollywood, and it’s something Hollywood is already really excited by. Someone in L.A. recently called it, “Lightning in a bottle” and it is — the combination of Indian story and stars with Hollywood creatives and FX is an explosive combination. Bringing the “Nagin” snake goddess story to the modern world in this way is groundbreaking in itself, and it’s the first time an American female director (Jennifer Lynch) is making a film for Bollywood. In addition it’s the first Bollywood film to be represented by a top Hollywood agency (William Morris Endeavor), and it may be the first Bollywood film with an American villain! It could very well be the first female-empowerment-superhero-goddess-revenge-thriller-love-story in cinema history! Irrfan Khan is my co-star, and I think it’ll be considered one of his best, if not the best, performance of his career. He was incredible to work with, I know I became a better actress just by being on set with him. The film looks great, just by watching it will be like getting a university degree in “cool”!

ASIANCE: October is your birthday month. Will you be celebrating back in India with your family and friends, or here in the States?

Mallika: I’ll be in LA rehearsing for my next film. But don’t forget to send me flowers!

ASIANCE: What advice would you give to those aspiring to enter the entertainment/fashion industry?

Mallika: I recommend reading the biographies of and studying great people whose careers you’d like to emulate or surpass.

You can follow Mallika on her Twitter page at http://twitter.com/MalliKaLA! And, don’t forget to wish her a happy birthday this month! Until next time everyone.