June 27, 2018
Mallika Sherawat is bold, fearless and outspoken. The actress, who works
closely with an organisation that fights against human trafficking and
commercial sexual exploitation of children, says she wants to be the voice of
women who don't have one and that activism is important for her.
She was
teargassed and beaten up in her Paris apartment in 2016. She also had to deal
with a "crazy terrible stalker".
Does she fear for her life?
"I
can't stop living my life. What's good if I don't get to use my voice for the
cause that I believe in? I believe in women empowerment and to be the voice for
women who don't have a voice.
"I get mails from Haryana... from women
saying, 'Show us the way'. They want to make something of their life. My
activism is very important to me," Mallika told IANS on the phone from Mumbai.
She wants to inspire women across the country through her story on facing
her stalker in ZEE5's anthology series, "The Story".
Talking about the
episode of the digital project, she said: "It was kind of reliving the
nightmare, but it was important for me to speak up about the experience. In
India, a lot of people think that the life of a famous person is very simple...
but actually, it's not. We all have our own challenges and problems.
"I
had this crazy, terrible stalker. Also, what's happening in India right now with
all these gang rape cases... there is a need to take self-defence seriously."
Recalling the incident, the "Murder" actress said: "This took place a few
years ago in Mumbai. This crazy guy was against the idea of me wearing short
skirts. He said 'You are going against your culture. Women like you should be
put behind bars'.
"My clothes were an obsession for him. He just couldn't
believe that a girl from Haryana could wear short skirts and that too on screen.
I know that regressive mentality towards women exists, but I didn't know that it
could go this far.
"I think, for him, it was like, 'I am going to set her
right. I am going to teach her the value of wearing a sari'. He even had a gun
with him. I talk about women's rights. He just didn't want me to speak. He hated
what I stood for -- independent, modern Indian women. That guy was put behind
bars."
She is positive that the audience, especially women, will relate
to it because a "lot of women are facing harassment" at work and at home.
"I have faced harassment. It is a very common thing with women," she said.
Mallika has also got the rights to adapt "The Good Wife", an American legal
and political drama TV series, for Indian audiences.
"Again, it is a
women's empowerment show. By the end of this year, we will start shooting for
it. I will play the central character," she said.
"It will be shot in
India in Hindi. I am really excited to share it with the Indian audience. I
think the time is right," added the actress, who featured in the American show
"Hawaii Five-0".
Mallika has made frequent appearances on the Cannes Film
Festival's red carpet. She has also featured in Chinese films like "Time
Raiders" and "The Myth".
She feels proud that the audience abroad
"absolutely loves Bollywood".
"Bollywood is really making its presence
felt abroad. A lot of Indian actors are working abroad. They love musicals of
Bollywood as they are so unique. Now, realistic cinema is also coming from
Bollywood. They help to form a good image for Bollywood."