Who is Mallika Sherawat? Bollywood actress beaten by masked intruders in Paris – here’s what we know
Bollywood superstar Mallika Sherawat has been tear gassed and beaten by three masked intruders in her Paris apartment block.
But who is the actress and is her attack linked to the gunpoint robbery of Kim Kardashian in October 2016?
Who is Mallika Sherawat?
Mallika Sherawat is Bollywood superstar, sex symbol and international model.
She was born Reema Lamba on October 24 1976, in Haryana, India, but changed her name to Mallika Sherawat when she began acting to stand out from the crowd.
The Indian actress is highly acclaimed and now splits her time between India and LA, where she was made an honorary citizen in 2009.
The 40-year-old is a feminist who frequently highlights crimes against women in India.
In 2013 she described India as "regressive for women".
She said: “With female feticide, infanticide happening on an almost daily basis; with gang rapes making the headlines of almost every newspaper; with honour killings.
"I think it’s a very, very regressive state for women.”
At this year's Cannes Film Festival the actress, who has a degree in philosophy, told variety magazine: "India is a hypocritical society where women are really at the bottom compared to men."
In 2008 Mallika won the Renaissance Artist Award at the 16th Annual Diversity Awards in Hollywood.
Between 2000 and 2001 she was married to Karan Singh Gill, she is currently believed to be dating French businessman Cyrille Auxenfans.
What films has Mallika Sherawat starred in?
Mallika Sherawat gained public attention after appearing in the 2003 film Khwahish.
In 2004 she starred in the highly acclaimed film Murder, inspired by Hollywood's Unfaithful.
In 2005 she starred in The Myth alongside Jackie Chan - her first international film.
Mallika has since starred in Hollywood film, Politics of Love, which was released in 2011 and television series Hawaii Five-O.
Why is Mallika Sherawat in the news?
Mallika Sherawat was tear gassed and beaten up by three masked intruders in her Paris apartment block.
The horrific attack happened just a month after reality TV star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a neighbouring flat
On November 11 Mallika and French businessman lover Cyrille Auxenfans, 45, arrived at her residential building in the upmarket 16th arrondissement of Paris at around 9.30pm.
The criminals wore scarves across their faces and "without saying a word, sprayed their victims with tear gas before punching them, Le Parisien reported.
A criminal investigation has been launched, with detectives working on the theory that the assailants were attempting a robbery.
How similar was it to the Kim Kardashian robbery?
Mallika Sherwat was robbed in the same neighbourhood as Kim Kardashian.
In both instances the women were ambushed by masked intruders and incapacitated.
Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in her plush Parisian apartment, in Rue Tronchet in Paris's Madeleine district, in October.
She was restrained and thrown into a marble bath tub as the ruthless criminals stole a reported £8.5 million worth of jewellery – including her £3.5 million engagement ring.
Few details of Mallika's horrific experience have emerged yet but it has already been compared to the Kardashian robbery.
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