Society Did Mallika Sherawat Dirty & Her Latest Interview Is Empowering In Every Sense

Growing up in the 2000s, I vividly remember how Mallika Sherawat was vilified. The words thrown at her were bold, hot, inappropriate, shameless, sexy—label after label, reducing her to a caricature, a mere “sex symbol.” These descriptors, embedded in my mind for years, painted her as someone who didn’t fit the mold of what a woman should be. She started her career with the movie Murder, which became a cult classic, but the bold scenes forever typecast her as the ‘bold actress.’ At the time, I didn’t realize how deeply unjust that was. But looking back now, I see how she was simply ahead of her time.

As a woman, I know how the world tries to put us in a box. They wanted us to stay there, confined to the narrative they’d created, but Mallika broke the mold. Recently, I watched a podcast she did with BeerBiceps aka Ranveer Allahbadia, and it was an eye-opener. The perceptions I had about her, shaped by the media back then, started to change. That podcast made it crystal clear: Mallika was much more than the labels. She was a trailblazer—a woman who lived life on her terms and was unapologetic about it. And isn’t that the sad reality? When a woman tries to do something on her own terms, society often labels her problematic.

Here are a few takeaways from the podcast that reinforced how Mallika is a true feminist and a champion of women’s empowerment.

1. The Media Got It All Wrong

In the interview, Mallika talked about how the media ruthlessly attacked her, especially after she called Indian society regressive for women. She recounted an incident where a female journalist cornered her at a press conference, criticizing her for the statement. Another TV anchor went line by line through the lyrics of her song Bheege Hoth Tere and actually asked her, “Aapko sharam nahi aayi aisa gaana karte hue?” (Weren’t you ashamed to do a song like this?). But, as always, she held her ground. Her response? “No, I enjoyed it.” It left the anchor speechless. How dare a woman own her choices, right?

2. The Viciousness of Her Female Peers

Mallika revealed that while her male co-stars were largely cordial, it was her female contemporaries who were vicious towards her. This is despite Mallika being a self-proclaimed girl’s girl, who believed in sisterhood and empowerment. It’s sad but telling—women are often pitted against each other, and when one dares to break free, the backlash can come from anywhere, even from those who should have stood by her.

3. Freedom Through Murder

While the movie Murder brought her stardom, it gave her something far more valuable—economic independence. She never set out to chase fame or awards; for her, those were only byproducts. What mattered most was gaining control over her own life and Murder gave her the financial freedom to live on her terms, to make her own decisions—right or wrong—without being beholden to anyone. And that’s what she has advocated throughout the podcast even sending out a message to the young girls by saying never walk behind anyone, walk in front.. She advised all women to be financially independent as it would give them control of their own lives and destinies including their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

4. Unshakeable Self-Belief

Mallika spoke about how she never let “what ifs” get in her way. As a 20-something, she believed she could conquer the world—and why not? She lived without restrictions, refusing to let negative thoughts drag her down. She enjoyed her Bollywood journey and embraced it fully. Over the years, she’s met the likes of Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, Jackie Chan, and Jeff Bezos, and even visited Twitter HQ and the Cannes Film Festival—an incredible journey. And guess what guys, she’s still friends with Jackie!

5. Battling Patriarchy

Mallika has always been vocal about the regressive attitudes women face, both within Bollywood and society at large. In the podcast she mentions how society begins shaming a girl from the moment she is born — shaming her body, her voice, her choices. Women are constantly told how to behave, how to dress, and what to think. This control through shame is pervasive. Mallika endured this when her effigies were burned in 2004, but she came out stronger.

She further shared how growing up, she witnessed gender biases firsthand by her parents but it wasn’t their fault—they were merely passing down what they had seen. She said while how men behave with women is a whole different conversation, but, women, she pointed out, often do the most injustice to themselves by accepting patriarchal and regressive norms more. It took her years to unlearn that, and a lot of courage to finally break free.

6. Her Take on Feminism

Mallika’s message is clear: feminism is about equal opportunity, not about hating men. Men, she believes, must be part of the system if things are to truly change. Her focus has always been on empowering women to stand on their own feet and take charge of their lives. She’s proud of how far she has come and the podcast gives that message just loud and clear.

Mallika Sherawat has been labeled and judged and looked down upon. But through it all, she remained unapologetic, embracing her journey with grace and strength. Her story is a powerful reminder that women who break the mold are often misunderstood—but it’s these very women who pave the way for others to follow.

Featured Image: Instagram