Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat, who famously branded India as a regressive and a depressing nation for women at the 2013’s Cannes International Film Festival, is standing by her declaration, and taking her argument to the Oxford Union, one of the most prestigious debating societies in the world.
When she participates in the Union’s debate on February 27, on the subject ‘This House Believes Gender Exists to Oppress’, the Murder star promises that she won’t sugarcoat India’s reality.
“Glossing over things has never been my policy. I cannot be hypocritical. Right now as we are talking, there’s a woman suffering abuse,” said Sherawat. Her remarks on an international platform such as Cannes polarised India. She was at once vilified and venerated, with the majority of India’s media and industry colleagues, such as Priyanka Chopra, condemning her remarks as unfair and offensive. However, there was a large section who appreciated her bold move. The 36-year-old also recently appeared on the now-cancelled Piers Morgan show on CNN to champion the rights of Indian women.
“Tell me honestly, as a woman do you feel safe in India?” asked Sherawat, passionately. She was at her home in Los Angeles and had just wrapped up an invigorating yoga session. But any feeling of calm that she may have gained from the class quickly evaporated as she launched into a passionate plea.
“Do you realise that the conviction rate for rapes in India has dropped drastically? We are in the 21st century and we thought that after the Delhi gangrape case [on December 16, 2012], it would go up. But the conviction rate for the last years have dropped significantly,” said Sherawat, rattling off a number of statistics.
In 2005, this actress, who made her Bollywood debut in 2003 with the erotic Khwahish and later acted in a miniscule role in a Jackie Chan film, received death threats when she declared that women in Harayana were treated like cattle.
“There was an assassination attempt on my life. That keeps happening on a regular basis. But that’s not going to stop me from sticking up for my sisters who are not privileged,” said Sherawat. While she realises that her statements and her newly-developed American accent will be viciously torn apart by a large part of the Indian press, Sherawat’s game plan is simple.
“I am going to speak the truth. I always have and always will ... If I am torn apart, I will be like the laughing Buddha,” said Sherawat.
In an extensive interview with tabloid!, Sherawat opens up about her repressed childhood, her activist aspirations and the downside to being a sex-symbol ...
What are your thoughts on speaking at the Oxford Union debate?
Mallika Sherawat: I am honoured to be a part of such a prestigious debate. It is a historic venue and look at my background: I grew up in a small town in Harayana so it’s a big thing to be invited. I feel proud knowing that Oxford Union is a breeding ground for future leaders and they want me to speak on gender issues and gender differences. I will be addressing the future leaders of tomorrow, so it’s all incredible.
How are you preparing for the debate?
I am so nervous. Imagine, world leaders such as Carter, Nixon and Dalai Lama have spoken at this historic venue. I hope India gives me moral support. The way I am going about my preparation is a mixture of everything. I am doing lots of research on gender issues, poring through a lot of data and looking at examples at who has been oppressed, such as Malala Yousafzai [the Pakistani school girl who was shot by the Taliban and survived to spearhead a campaign for education for children]. I am also speaking to reporters here to understand the issue better. It’s not a problem that exists only in India. It takes time to eradicate and solve violence against women. Remember, India is a country with a billion-plus people. So imagine what we are dealing with? We need to actively recognise that there’s a problem and bring attention to it.
Your comments about India being regressive for women was scrutinised and criticised. Do you expect to gather so much attention?
I fight hard for women’s rights because I have faced oppression in my own life. I grew up in a small town and I didn’t have rights to do so many things because I was a woman. I was denied it. I have lived it. Now that I am a celebrity, it’s easy to live a life of privilege, luxury and say: ‘let’s fix it’. But I am not doing that. I am willing to speak about it openly. It hurts me because I tried so hard to bring attention to my sisters who don’t have a voice. It’s true that some part of the media criticised me. But as I see it, it’s a regressive situation for women in India right now.
Do you think your comments didn’t go down well because it came from a Bollywood actress who has acted in racy roles?
Is it hypocrisy? I don’t know. I am not doing this for money. I am not getting paid for saying all that. It is easy for me to sit back and keep making money. But as a woman I have this responsibility to use this platform for my sisters who do not have a voice. I feel privileged that I got out of the situation. Now, I have this Bollywood platform where I get media attention and I am not going to use it just for money. I am going to use it to bring attention to a cause that’s relevant to my country. I love India and I am passionate about it. As a responsible citizen, if women are not going to talk about it, then who’s going to talk about it?
Were you surprised at the negative reaction?
No I was not. I am not narcissistic and I don’t read anything about me. I don’t Google my name or search the internet to find out what’s written about me. My publicist informed me about how my remarks were received in India and by Western media. The Western media loved me and they were shocked at how my own contemporaries reacted to it.
Do you feel ostracised?
I don’t know. I don’t pay attention to such things [laughs].
What do you think is the way forward?
I want to build a foundation that will empower and educate women. While that’s my ultimate goal, it starts with baby steps. I am going to put my heart, soul and everything into it. I want to give women, with no rights, a chance in life. Remember, Mumbai and Delhi are not the real India. The real Indian women live in small towns and where they are not allowed out of their houses. I lived it and I knew that. Many get married before the age of 18.
Are your bold remarks costing you a career in Bollywood?
I don’t think so. In 2005 when I made a remark that women in Harayana are treated like cattle, there was an assassination attempt and I received death threats. That keeps happening on a regular basis. But that’s not going to stop me from sticking up for my sisters who are not privileged ... I also realise that because of the racy roles I have done, it’s difficult for directors to cast me in different roles which are not bold or proactive. But Dirty Politics, which will release soon, is a biopic I am proud of.
Do you think your remarks made at Cannes would have had better reception if had not been said by a sex symbol?
In my career, I didn’t want to just look pretty. If you see Murder, it was about a strong woman and her journey. In Pyaar Ke Side Effects, it was a strong character. Whether my films did well or not, they were all strong roles. And what’s wrong with doing racy roles? I have not done roles that promote inequality between men and women. I have never done any role that’s a subservient character. If you talk about male stars, aren’t they objectified or aren’t they taking off their shirts too?
