In a recent interview, Mallika Sherawat got candid about her weirdest Tollywood work experience, the exploitation of women's sexuality in the film industry, and the title of 'sex symbol'.
Mallika Sherawat, best known for her iconic item songs, has finally made her much-anticipated comeback. She will be seen in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, which released on October 11, 2024. The film also stars Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri in the lead. Well, Mallika, who had been busy with the promotions for the upcoming film, recently revealed some interesting tidbits about her Tollywood experiences.
In a recent interview with Hauterrfly, Mallika reflected on her strangest working experience in Tollywood. Talking about the incident, which happened while she was shooting for a song, Mallika revealed:
“I was shooting for a song in a South Indian movie when the director approached me. He said, ‘Madam, we want to show how hot you are.’ I agreed, thinking it was just a typical dance sequence. But then he added, ‘In this scene, the hero will cook rotis on your stomach.”
Mallika laughed as she expressed how shocked she was to hear their idea for portraying a woman’s attractiveness. She further revealed that she declined the idea, saying that it didn’t work for her. However, she clarified that her reason for bringing it up now was to shed some light on the mindset in the South.
During the same conversation, Mallika also shared her blunt opinions about the double standards around women’s sexuality in films. The actress stated that the film industry has exploited women’s sexuality for decades. To back up her claims, she spoke of women being used to sell everything, including cars, soaps, washing machines, and even toothpaste.
However, according to her, the moment a woman tried to own her sexuality, the tables turned. Recalling the backlash she faced for her film, Murder, Mallika said:
“In 2004, when I did Murder, we used erotica for the box office. What is the box office? It’s stimulation, right? People were outraged; they burned my dolls. On one side, you use a woman’s sexuality to sell something, and on the other, you abuse me for the same thing.”
Mallika, who was hailed as the B-town sex symbol of the 2000s, couldn't hold back her frustration at the title. In the Hauterrfly interview, she loudly stated that she enjoyed being a woman but she had no idea what being a sex symbol even meant. In Mallika’s words:
“What is this sex symbol? I am a woman. What does it mean? Yes, I am a woman. I enjoy being a woman. Does that make me a sex symbol? I really want to know what is it.”
The host then clarified that the title had no specific definition but originated from explicit songs, choreographies, or scenes. To this, Mallika staunchly responded that she had never been afraid of intimate scenes. She further said that she gave herself to “Bhatt Sahab” saying she was in his hands and ready to be moulded like clay.
What do you think about Mallika Sherawat’s revelations about South India’s obsession? Let us know.
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