'Bold scene with Om Puri was bit difficult '

She hasn’t been seen on the big screen in the last couple of years but that hasn’t seen a decline in her popularity. Mallika Sherawat still is still a favourite with Hindi filmgoers thanks to the bold debut she made in Khwaish in 2003. Since then Mallika has come a long way and has acted in Hollywood too.

Hi, how have you been? The Hindi filmgoers have been missing you.

(Smiles) I am good. I know they have been missing me and I too was missing them. But I am really happy that I am back and they will now stop complaining. (Laughs again) I am again back giving interviews and promoting my film and I am really enjoying it. It has been quite a while that I have done a Hindi film and I too was missing Bollywood but I was busy with a few other things. It’s not that I wasn’t working. It’s just that I didn’t do too many Hindi films in the last few years.

So, you were busy with your international projects?

Yes, you know how things happen in Hollywood. It takes a lot of time to make a film. I did a film, Politics of Love, and then another show on CBS channel. So that consumed a lot of time. At the same time, I have always been choosy about the films I do. There were too many good films that came my way. I really liked the story of Dirty Politics and decided to do it.

What attracted you to the film?

The story and my character. It’s a very well made film and a story that is very touchy, at the same time very shocking. It has been directed by KC Bokadia, who again comes with a lot of experience.

The film’s based on the real-life story of Bhanwari Devi?

Yes it’s inspired by the story of Bhanwari Devi and it’s a very serious film. I play Anokhi Devi, who uses sex as a tool to meet her greed. She is very ambitious and can go to any extent, even to the extent of developing a physical relationship with the politicians. I haven’t played such a role before and  my fans will see me in a new avatar.

What was your reference point for playing the character?

Bhanwari Devi was herself the reference point. It was a very difficult role. I didn’t meet her but I read the stories and did my bit of research. It wasn’t at all easy because I had to wear the sari in a completely different style, like the women in Rajasthan do. I went to Jodhpur and tried to understand the lifestyle of the people of there, learnt the particular dialect and everything that was required to do to play this role.

You will again be seen doing bold scenes in the film, this time with actor Om Puri.

(Laughs) But that was a bit difficult for me this time. I have never had any inhibitions doing bold scenes. In fact, a large part of the industry has typecast me. But this time it was difficult for me because it was Mr Om Puri. He is such a veteran actor and I was very uncomfortable. However, it was he who came up to me and talked to me and made me comfortable. It was one of the most difficult scenes because here Anokhi Devi was not only trying to be physical with him but also was making a video of it because she wanted to use it to blackmail him. I am happy that the scene finally came out well.

You have always been vocal about women’s rights and crimes against women.

And I have often been attacked by people for doing that. I have always felt that if there’s any crime against women I should talk about it. Many haven’t taken it the right way and have said that I have earned a bad name for my country on the foreign shores. But that’s not what I have ever intended. I have always felt that such things need to be spoken. If I don’t speak about it then I am also doing a crime by allowing this crime to grow.

Do you really care about what is and has been said about you?

Who cares? At least I don’t

Though you have done a lot of comedies and serious films, you have been typecast as a sex symbol because of films like Khawaish and Murder.

Who doesn’t get typecast? Actually, that is something, which happens to everyone. I have always loved doing comedies, especially romcoms. I am sure my fans will be able to see me in more romcoms in the future.

Finally, are you nervous before the release of Dirty Politics?

Oh I am really very nervous (laughs) but that’s not because it’s a new film of mine after a long time. I really don’t know how my fans will accept me in a sari. They haven’t seen me in one before. Wish me luck!