It wasn’t a fake accent: Mallika Sherawat

Mallika Sherawat

Mallika Sherawat was heavily criticized for adopting an accent that some would call fake, during a video interview at the Cannes Film Festival this year. However, the actress says that it wasn't a fake accent, but just her way of making Americans understand what she was saying. In a chat, she talks about finding love through a reality show and more: 

On her 'acquired' accent "It wasn't a fake accent. When Americans come here, it is difficult for us to understand their accent when they are from Texas or other places. Similarly, the Indian accent is quite difficult for Americans to understand. That is why, you try to neutralise your Indian accent and you try to speak in another accent. When I go to Haryana, I speak Hindi with a Haryanvi accent. That was it. There was no 'put on' accent," she says. 

I didn't call India regressive The actress was also condemned for calling India 'regressive' on an international platform. However, she maintains, "I didn't call India regressive. I said that the way womenare treated in India is regressive. I stand by it. Look at all the gang rapes that happen every day and we had thought that after the Nirbhaya case, since people were coming together, things would change suddenly. But then what happened? More gang rapes. According to me, that is regressive. Kehte hain na, yeh Ram ko pujne waala desh, yeh Ram ko pujne waale mard and this is how they look at women. This is really shocking to me. I mean, as a woman, I have never felt as insecure in India as I feel today. All the other people who criticized me, I am shocked. They are being diplomatic and hypocritical." 

On her show The actress can be seen in 'The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika' where she will be choosing her soulmate from among 30 contestants. She reveals that she was a little scared when she was first offered the show. "There were a few apprehensions. I have been a very private person all my life. I never discuss my personal life and I guard my privacy a lot," she says, adding, "But when they approached me for the show, there were a lot of good things about it. First of all, I thought I could give out a message to young girls, specially in these times when there are so many cases of gang rapes and many other incidents of violence against women. A woman's position in our society is at its lowest. I thought that if I could through the medium of TV, reach out to women, it would be great. TV has a wider reach, much wider than print and films. The show was giving me an opportunity to meet normal men in my life. I am not interested in anyone from the film industry. I wanted that normal life, that normal partner, that normalcy in my life." Why no one from the film industry? She replies, "These are matters of the heart. I have never felt attracted towards anyone from the film industry. You want that kind of normalcy. Some actresses want it, that's why so many actresses marry doctors and businessmen, because they want that normal life that they once left behind." 

On her ideal bachelor "The ideal bachelor for me is Narendra Modi. He is smart, progressive and very often misunderstood like me," the actress says, adding that her ideal partner "has to be romantic and has to have a sense of humour," she says, adding, "Khud bhi hansein, mujhe bhi hansaye. Looks are not very important. But he cannot be unhealthy and fat. He has to wear good shoes. Somehow, it puts me off when men don't wear good shoes." 

On opting for de-glam roles She says, "I am really bored of doing all the glamourous roles. I really wish that the young filmmakers would cast me in roles like I did in 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects'. I would really like those kinds of scripts. The bold, sexy roles I get dime a dozen, but now, at this stage in my career, I am making a conscious effort to do more performance-oriented roles." 

From Haryana to films "I have to pinch myself. I cannot believe that it is all real. Is it? Am I dreaming? I mean what are the chances that a girl like me from Haryana makes it in Bollywood and then moves to LA and also meets Barack Obama? But then if I can do it, so can other girls," she says. 

On Rajasthan The actress is presently shooting for Dirty Politics in Rajasthan. Along with the same, the search for her soulmate is also taking place in Udaipur at the Fateh Garh Fort. "It's become a part of me in my journey. I feel it's living the journey as much as I am. The dates are happening here, the shoots are happening here, the heartbreak is happening here. Everything is a part of the soil we are shooting in. It's as much a part of my journey as anything else," she says. 

On missing Delhi "I haven't visited Haryana in over 10 years. But I don't miss it. The way women are being treated there, I don't miss it. Delhi, I miss a lot. The winters in Delhi are really, really special. Going to Chandni Chowk, eating those paranthas is something I really miss. Connaught Place holds great memories. We all used to bunk college and hang out there. We used to go and watch all the movies at Odeon. Chanakyapuri, GK M-block market, they all hold great memories," she says.