Dehradun-based freelance writer/journalist and social worker turned film actress, Mala Malhotra has packed more into her 24 years than most people do in a lifetime. Starting her career as a journalist in 2003, her byline is no stranger to readers of Times of India, Doon Classified, Himachal Times, and Mid-Day, Mumbai. Conferred the National Youth Award in 2003 as the youngest writer with more than 200 articles in various publications, her most recent achievement is winning The Arch of Excellence Award of the All-India Achievers’ Conference 2008 for her contributions to society as a journalist, actor and social worker.
Mala attended the Welham Girls School and MKP College, and from the age of 12 was equally at ease with computers, kathak and bharatnatyam performances and yoga. In 2004 she established an NGO and a dance school under an umbrella organisation called Mala’s World. While the school has an enrolment of 50 girl children learning dance, music and yoga, the NGO provides counselling to people of all ages on issues as diverse as drugs, career counselling, personality development and inter-personal relationships. “My NGO is essentially for marginalised scheduled caste women and children who are provided free education and music and dance lessons. Moreover, I’ve recently taken on self-proclaimed animal rights organisations who make tall claims, but in reality do a shoddy job of their responsibilities,” says Mala.
Her entry into the glamour world of films happened by chance. While interviewing well-known Bollywood music director M.Z. Khayyam for Mid-Day, she met S. Soni, director and producer of the Hindi language movie Rajwade, who offered her a role in the film. The feature film was screened at the Film Festival of India 2010 staged in Pune last month.
Committed to the thespian’s art and keen to connect with a wider audience, Mala has appeared in television serials Athvan Vachan and Paavni, and a documentary for Doordarshan titled Jogi Java. But her priority is big screen feature films. “I’m very excited about my forthcoming Hindi movie Khudi Ko Kar Buland Itna with singer Sukhvinder Singh. I play the role of a journalist, so it all came naturally. It’s my best role thus far,” she says. This mega budget (Rs.20 crore) movie was released on January 22, and is reportedly doing well at the box office.
Not intimidated by big names, Mala has signed up for Abhishek Bachchan’s directorial debut Hashr, and will be seen in two feature films opposite Sanjay Dutt and Rajpal Yadav. “While I’m excited about my film roles, I don’t intend abandoning journalism. It’s my first love,” signs off this multi-talented go-getter.
Natasha Pathak (Dehradun)