Mallika Sherawat is once again making the headlines with her boldest claim yet. On The Traitors 2, the ‘Murder’ actress said Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise has a crush on her and even messages her on social media.
Some of the contestants were having discussions about crushes and love. One of the fellow contestants, Aditya Kulshrestha, asked Mallika whether she had ever had a crush on someone. She replied that, instead, “everyone” had a crush on her and then named Tom Cruise.
Mallika claimed that Tom Cruise personally messaged her and said that if she had her phone with her, she could have shown the videos he allegedly sent her. She also referred to times when they had partied together.
However, these remain Mallika’s claims. There has been no independent confirmation from Tom Cruise about the alleged messages or their relationship.
Mallika is known for stealing the spotlight, and now she is in the discussion regarding this new claim. But long before she spoke about Tom Cruise on a reality show, Mallika had already built a reputation for making headlines with her bold choices, outspoken views, and unconventional career.
‘Murder’ made her a sensation
Mallika gained recognition from Murder in 2004, which changed her career.
Starring opposite Emraan Hashmi, Mallika played Simran, a married woman involved in an extramarital relationship.
The film became a major success, and Mallika’s bold performance became the biggest talking point.
She was widely discussed for her bold looks and scenes. But fame also brought criticism.
Her choice of bold roles made her a frequent target of judgement and trolling.
Mallika later said that she was often treated differently because of the films she chose to do.
‘I was shamed for my bold looks’: Mallika
Mallika has spoken several times about how society judged actresses for their on-screen choices.
In an interview with The Indian Express, she said that people often assumed actresses were “easy” simply because they had romanced men on screen.
She also said that she was shamed because of the bold films she had done and that people felt they could take liberties with her because of her screen image.
Mallika argued that women in the film industry should be judged for their work rather than the characters they play.
She also supported the #MeToo movement and said that more women needed to occupy important positions in the film industry.
Mallika has spoken about how being an actress with a bold image affected her personal life as well.
She claimed that people even questioned whether she could be a suitable wife because of the characters she played on screen.
She even worked with Jackie Chan in ‘The Myth’
Mallika’s ambitions were not limited to Bollywood. In 2005, she appeared alongside Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan in the international film The Myth.
She played an Indian woman named Samantha and shared screen space with Chan.
Her appearance in the film attracted attention in India because it allowed Mallika to work in an international production at a time when very few Indian actresses were getting such opportunities.
For an actress who had been criticised heavily for her Bollywood image, the international project was another important milestone.
‘Producer wanted to fry an egg on my belly’: Mallika
Mallika has also shared some uncomfortable experiences from her time in the industry.
During an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, she recalled that a producer once suggested frying an egg on her belly to show how “hot” she was.
The anecdote became another example of the kind of objectification she said actresses faced in the industry.
Mallika has consistently maintained that women should not be judged or treated differently simply because of the roles they play.
Her equation with Emraan Hashmi also made headlines
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Mallika and Emraan Hashmi’s pairing in Murder became one of the most talked-about screen pairings of the early 2000s.
However, their relationship was not always smooth.
The two reportedly had a fallout after the film and did not remain in regular contact for years.
Their equation became a talking point again when they met after nearly two decades.
Mallika later said that they had moved past their differences.
The reunion also showed how much time had passed since Murder made both actors major talking points in Bollywood.
Over the years, Mallika worked in Hindi films as well as international projects.
She appeared in films including Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Welcome, Hisss and Politics of Love.
She also continued to make appearances at international events and remained one of the Indian actresses most willing to speak openly about sexuality, gender and women’s choices.
Now, Mallika is back with ‘The Traitors 2’
Mallika is currently appearing as a contestant on The Traitors 2, hosted by Karan Johar.
The reality show brings together celebrities from films, television, music, social media, and other fields. The contestants are divided into secret groups of Faithfuls and Traitors, with strategy and deception forming the core of the game.
