Mallika Sherawat changed her name after dad said "she'd tarnish family name if entered Bollywood"

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• Sep 13, 2021 | moderator

Mumbai: Actress Mallika Sherawat had changed her name when she entered the film industry. She was born as, Reema Lamba but adopted a different name to become an actor in Bollywood.

She adopted her mother's maiden name, Sherawat, and revealed what made her change her name. In a recent interview, she said that her father felt that she would tarnish down the family's reputation if she enters Bollywood. Due to this reason, she decided to disown her father’s name.

“It was my rebellion against patriarchy because my father said, ‘Ye filmo mein jayegi, parivaar ka naam kharab karegi, main tereko disown karta hoon (She will enter the film industry, she will ruin the family name, I disown you).’ Maine kaha, 'Main tumhara naam hi disown karti hoon. Tum kya mujhe disown karoge (I told him that I disown your name). Yes, you're my dad, I respect you, I love you, main apni maa ka naam use karungi (But I'll use my mother's name).' So I used Sherawat, it's my mother's name,” she said.

Mallika came into the limelight only after she appeared in some bold scenes with Emraan Hashmi in a film called 'Murder'. She later appeared in films such as Welcome, Pyaar Ke Side Effects, Khwahish, and Dasavatharam. Internationally also she did two films like the Myth, with Jackie Chan, and Politics of Love.

In the same interview, Mallika said that as years passed by, the sourness with the family has reduced. “It's still not the best I would say, but with age, everyone softens,” she said.

Mallika Sherawat last appeared in Rajat Kapoor's film Rk/RKay. She will appear next in a digital series called Naqab.