Mallika Sherawat Recalls Crying After Top Actors Shamed Her for Murder: 'Mahesh Bhatt Said, So Many Sluts...'

Mallika Sherawat recently opened up about the challenges she faced after the success of the 2004 erotic thriller Murder. Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Mallika shared how the film not only catapulted her to stardom but also gave her the financial independence she had long desired. However, fame came with its own set of challenges, especially from her Bollywood contemporaries.

“Murder gave me stardom, but most importantly, it gave me economic independence,” Mallika revealed. “For me, winning awards was never the goal. What mattered was being able to live life on my own terms and make decisions, regardless of whether they were right or wrong. Fame is just a byproduct.”

Reflecting on her journey post-Murder, she noted the drastic shift in people’s behaviour toward her. “Murder changed everything. Suddenly, everyone recognised me, and their attitude toward me shifted. Fame back then was much bigger,” she explained. “In the early 2000s, I carved out a space for myself, but today’s newcomers have to deal with a different reality. No matter how big a hit a film is, it fades from memory within two weeks because of the tsunami of content.”

Mallika also acknowledged that the culture in 2004 was not prepared for a film like Murder or for an actress like her. “The culture wasn’t ready for me back then, and it wasn’t ready for Murder either. Only now has Bollywood caught up to where I was in 2004,” she said. “At that time, actresses were expected to follow a certain code of conduct. They were shy, while I was unapologetic. With Murder, a femme fatale was introduced.”

She also revealed the harsh judgment she faced from her peers. “There are some big-name actresses in Bollywood whose names I won’t take, but they were condescending to my face,” she admitted. Seeking solace, she turned to her mentor, Mahesh Bhatt. “I ran to him crying, and he told me, ‘So many sluts in Bollywood, one more won’t matter.’ There was so much slut-shaming. They wanted to make me feel ashamed of the bold scenes I did.”

Mallika concluded by highlighting why Murder resonated with audiences, especially women. “A film doesn’t become a massive hit solely because of skin-show. Women connected with the story, particularly the loneliness of a married woman. That’s why Murder is still an enduring classic.”