Mallika Sherawat

Meet Mallika Sherawat, the Indian actress who's been turning heads in Bollywood with her bold onscreen presence since the early 2000s. Born Reema Lamba on October 24, 1976, in the small village of Moth, Haryana, this stunning starlet has come a long way from her humble beginnings. With a philosophy degree from Miranda House, Delhi University, and a childhood spent in a Jat family, Mallika was destined for greatness. She adopted her stage name "Mallika," meaning "empress," and added her mother's maiden name "Sherawat" to create a persona that's become synonymous with glamour and sophistication. From her breakout roles in Khwahish and Murder to her critically acclaimed performance in Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Mallika has proven herself to be a talented and fearless actress, taking on a range of roles in films like Welcome, Dasavathaaram, and Double Dhamaal, and even making a splash in Hollywood with movies like Hisss and Politics of Love, as well as Chinese films like The Myth and Time Raiders. Mallika Sherawat stormed into the Bollywood scene with a small role in Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, credited as Reema Lamba, but it was her breakout performance in the 2003 film Khwahish that truly put her on the map. Her bold role in 2004's Murder, inspired by Hollywood's Unfaithful, earned her a Zee Cine Awards nomination for Best Actress and critical acclaim, with critic Narbir Gosal praising her confident and sexy portrayal of Simran. The film's massive success catapulted Sherawat to stardom, and she soon became known for speaking her mind, often sparking controversy with her statements. Her international debut came in 2005 with The Myth, a Chinese film co-starring Jackie Chan, which she promoted at the Cannes Film Festival, earning her a spot on Time magazine's radar as "the next big thing." Sherawat continued to dazzle audiences with her performances in Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Guru, and Welcome, with Taran Adarsh hailing her as "electrifying." While some films, like Ugly Aur Pagli and Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam, didn't quite hit the mark, she bounced back with Double Dhamaal, which achieved moderate success. Sherawat also made a splash in Hollywood with Hisss, co-starring Irrfan Khan, and Politics of Love, a romantic comedy set during Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Her activism and charitable work have earned her recognition, including the 2008 Renaissance Artist Award and honorary citizenship of Los Angeles in 2009.