Mallika Sherawat recently opened up about the struggles she faced after rising to stardom with the 2004 erotic thriller Murder. Speaking on a podcast, Mallika shared how the film not only brought her into the limelight but also gave her long-desired financial independence. However, the fame came with its own set of hurdles, particularly from her peers in Bollywood.
“Murder gave me stardom, but most importantly, it gave me economic independence,” Mallika said. “For me, winning awards was never the goal. What mattered was being able to live life on my own terms and make decisions, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. Fame is just a byproduct.”
Reflecting on her experiences after Murder, she revealed how dramatically people’s behavior towards her changed. “Murder changed everything. Suddenly, everyone recognized me, and their attitude toward me shifted. Fame back then was much bigger,” she explained. Mallika also highlighted how the industry has evolved, contrasting her journey with that of today’s newcomers: “In the early 2000s, I carved out a space for myself, but today’s newcomers have to deal with a different reality. No matter how big a hit a film is, it fades from memory within two weeks because of the tsunami of content.”
She further discussed how Bollywood and the cultural mindset at the time were not prepared for a film like Murder or for an actress like her. “The culture wasn’t ready for me back then, and it wasn’t ready for Murder either. Only now has Bollywood caught up to where I was in 2004,” Mallika noted. “At that time, actresses were expected to follow a certain code of conduct. They were shy, while I was unapologetic. With Murder, a femme fatale was introduced.”
Mallika also shared the harsh judgment she endured from some of her Bollywood contemporaries. “There are some big-name actresses in Bollywood whose names I won’t take, but they were condescending to my face,” she revealed. Seeking guidance, she turned to her mentor, Mahesh Bhatt, who gave her some tough advice. “I ran to him crying, and he told me, ‘So many sluts in Bollywood, one more won’t matter.’ There was so much slut-shaming. They wanted to make me feel ashamed of the bold scenes I did.”
Despite the criticism, Mallika remains proud of the impact Murder had, especially with its female audience. She believes the film resonated not just because of its provocative scenes, but because of its emotional depth. “A film doesn’t become a massive hit solely because of skin-show. Women connected with the story, particularly the loneliness of a married woman. That’s why Murder is still an enduring classic.”
Mallika’s candid revelations offer insight into her career and the evolving landscape of Bollywood, while highlighting the persistence of social judgment in the industry.
