Mallika Sherawat

Reema Lamba (born 24 October 1976), better known as Mallika Sherawat, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Hindi language films. Known for her bold onscreen attitude in films like Khwahish (2003) and Murder (2004),  Sherawat has established herself as a sex symbol and as one of the most popular celebrities in Bollywood. She then appeared in the successful romantic comedy Pyaar Ke Side Effects (2006) which won her much critical acclaim.

Since then, she has appeared in successes like Aap Ka Suroor, Welcome (both 2007) — her biggest commercial success so far — and Double Dhamaal (2011). She is one of the few Bollywood stars trying to cross over to Hollywood,  with films like Hisss (2010) and Politics of Love (2011).

Career

Kulkarni made her film debut with the 1992 movie Tirangaa (film). In 1993, she starred in Aashiq Awara, which won her a Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year. She went on to appear in many popular films such as Waqt Hamara Hai (1993), Krantiveer (1994), Karan Arjun (1995), Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) and Baazi (1995). She mostly played the leading actor’s love interest in all these films.

Things changed when Rajkumar Santoshi, in whose earlier movie Ghatak: Lethal (1996) she had a cameo appearance in a song, cast her as the female lead in his 1998 movie China Gate, an ambitious remake of Seven Samurai. However, things did not go as planned. Relations between Santoshi and the actress soured. Rumours began circulating that Kulkarni had been dropped from the movie, and was reinstated only after gangster Chhota Rajan intervened on her behalf.  When the movie was finally released, it was an average earner. Furthermore, the only song in the movie, the item number “Chamma Chamma”, was picturised on Urmila Matondkar, even though Kulkarni had built her reputation with such numbers. To add insult to injury, the song turned out to be a chartbuster, which greatly increased Matondkar’s popularity.

Angered and frustrated at the turn of events, Kulkarni lashed out at Santoshi, accusing him of cutting her screen time because she had refused his advances.  Santoshi denied all rumours related to the movie, and the matter was given a quiet burial. However, this proved to be the death blow to Kulkarni’s career. She only appeared in a handful of movies after that, and new offers dried up. She quit movies after the 2002 film Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum. She also did a few movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam.

Personal life

Kulkarni belonged to a middle class Marathi Brahmin family and claims that she was not married to Vicky Gowswami. However, contrary reports state that she married Vicky Goswami in 2013.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations