Malaika Arora is one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars, known for her incredible style, fitness, and dance moves. However, despite her fame and popularity, the actress isn’t immune to trolling. Recently, she opened up about the emotional toll of being age-shamed and labelled as ‘buddhiya’ (old woman) by critics. In a candid conversation with Pinkvilla, Malaika revealed how these hurtful comments sometimes trigger her.
Facing the Insensitivity of Age-Shaming
Malaika explained how the label “buddhiya” can affect her, saying, “For me, ‘buddhiya’… I mean, how can you even say something like that to somebody? Kabhi kabhi ye trigger karta hai, because bahut hi insensitive hai.” (Sometimes the label triggers me, because it’s really insensitive.) The actress pointed out that people only see the confident and happy persona she portrays but fail to understand the emotional struggles behind it. “They see only that brave persona. They will see ‘khush lag rahi hai’ (she is looking happy), but they don’t realize that there are so many things that can actually trigger you, upset you,” she shared.
However, instead of succumbing to negativity, Malaika has learned to turn such trolling into motivation. She added, “I feel that you should take these things as examples where you want to turn around and say, ‘People go ahead to say what you want to say, I will be better than that.’ I will prove to you that I can be better.”
Growing Up With a Single Mom: Malaika’s Early Lessons in Responsibility
In her candid chat, Malaika also spoke about how being raised by a single mother shaped her into the strong, independent person she is today. She revealed, “Because of my mom working, it made me extra responsible. At a very young age, I felt I was in a situation where I had to be responsible. I became the person who was taking care of my sister (Amrita Arora), and I became responsible way before my time.”
Malaika, who started working at the age of 17, shared that she was always focused on earning, saving, and investing. She also acknowledged the insecurities that come with growing up in a single-parent household.
The Impact of Divorce on Malaika’s Childhood
The actress was just 11 years old when her parents, Joyce Polycarp and Anil Mehta, divorced. After the separation, Malaika and her younger sister, Amrita, were raised by their mother. The family moved from Thane to Chembur, where their mother took on the role of both caregiver and provider.
Malaika’s resilience and ability to turn personal struggles into strength are evident in her career and life, showing that she continues to rise above the challenges, both personally and professionally.
