Malaika Arora born 23 October 1973 is an Indian actress, dancer, model, VJ, and television personality who appears in Hindi-language films. She made her debut as a film producer in 2008, with former husband Arbaaz Khan, founding the company Arbaaz Khan Productions, which has created the Dabangg film series. As an actress, Arora has starred in main roles in films Kaante (2002) and EMI (2008). As a dancer, she is acclaimed for her performances in the songs Chaiyya Chaiyya (1998), Gur Naalo Ishq Mitha (1998), Maahi Ve (2002), Kaal Dhamaal (2005), and Munni Badnaam Hui (2010).
Early life and background
Malaika Arora was named after the Swahili word “Malaika” meaning “angel”. She was born in Thane, Maharashtra. Her parents divorced when she was 11 years old and she moved to Chembur with her mother, and sister Amrita. Her mother, Joyce Polycarp, is a Malayali and her father, Anil Arora, was a Punjabi native to Indian border town of Fazilka, who worked in the Merchant Navy.
She completed her secondary education from Swami Vivekanand School in Chembur. Her aunt, Grace Polycarp, was the principal of the school. She is also an alumnus of the Holy Cross High School Thane where she studied until ninth grade. She pursued her college education from Jai Hind College, Churchgate but did not complete it on account of professional engagements. She lived in Borla Society, Chembur opposite Basant Talkies before starting her modelling career.
Career
Malaika Arora Khan (left) with her sister Amrita Arora, 2012.
Arora was selected as one of the VJs when MTV India started its operations. She began working as an interviewer, hosted shows such as Club MTV, and later co-hosted with Cyrus Broacha the shows Love Line and Style Check. Malaika then entered the modelling world, appearing in many advertisements, for album songs like Bally Sagoo’s “Gur Naalo Ishq Mitha” opposite Jas Arora and item numbers such as “Chaiyya Chaiyya” in the 1998 Bollywood film Dil Se...
In the 2000s, apart from featuring in item numbers for various films, she made cameo appearances in a few films. In 2008, she appeared in her first major acting role in the film EMI which was a box-office failure.
In 2010, she featured in the item song “Munni Badnaam Hui” in the film Dabangg, which was produced by her former husband Arbaaz Khan. On 12 March 2011, she helped set a world record with 1235 participants performing a choreographed dance to “Munni Badnaam” which she led.
She was the Taiwan Excellence celebrity endorser in 2012. She endorsed Dabur’s 30-plus. She states that she never wanted to do acting. She performed live alongside Atif Aslam, Shaan and Bipasha Basu in a series of concerts at LG Arena in Birmingham and The O2 Arena in London.
In 2014, she confirmed that she would make a cameo appearance in the Farah Khan-directed action comedy-drama film Happy New Year.
Television
Malaika appeared on the television show Nach Baliye as one of the three judges. The show was aired on STAR One in mid-2005. She continued as a judge in Nach Baliye 2 which started airing in the last quarter of 2006. In this show, she performed many item numbers as an example for the contestants. She appeared on the show Zara Nachke Dikha as a judge on Star One. She was a judge on the show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2010.
Malaika is on the judges panel in the show India’s Got Talent. She was the judge and host of the MTV Supermodel of the Year in 2019 and a judge of India’s Best Dancer in 2020.
Personal life
Malaika with former husband Arbaaz Khan at the wedding of her sister Amrita Arora
Malaika was married to Bollywood actor-director-producer Arbaaz Khan in 1998 whom she met during a coffee ad shoot . Since then she is known as Malaika Arora Khan. On 28 March 2016, they announced separation citing compatibility issues. The couple officially got divorced on 11 May 2017. Together they have a son, Arhaan Khan, born on 9 November 2002. The custody of the son after the divorce is with Malaika, while Arbaaz has visitation rights on his son, as per the settlement reached in the Bandra Family Court. Bollywood actor Salman Khan and actor-director-producer Sohail Khan are her former brothers-in-law. Her former father-in-law was scriptwriter Salim Khan.
Malaika has been in a relationship with actor Arjun Kapoor since 2017.
Filmography
As actress and dancer
- 1998: Dil Se.. in Chaiyya Chaiyya
- 1999: Pyar Ke Geet in Dholna
- 2000: Bichhoo in Ekwari Tak Le
- 2001: Indian in Yeh Pyar
- 2002: Maa Tujhhe Salaam (cameo appearance)
- 2002: Kaante as Lisa
- 2005: Kaal in Kaal Dhamaal
- 2007: Heyy Babyy in Heyy Babyy
- 2007: Athidhi in Rathraina (Telugu)
- 2007: Om Shanti Om in Deewangi Deewangi
- 2007: Welcome in Hoth Rasiley
- 2008: EMI as Nancy
- 2009: Helloo India (cameo appearance)
- 2010: Prem Kaa Game in I Wanna Fall in Love
- 2010: Housefull (2010 film) as Pooja
- 2010: Dabangg in Munni Badnaam Hui
- 2012: Gabbar Singh in Kevvu Keka (Telugu film)
- 2012: Housefull 2 in Anarkali Disco Chali
- 2012: Dabangg 2 in Pandey Ji Seeti
- 2014: Happy New Year (cameo appearance)
- 2015: Dolly Ki Doli in Fashion Khatam Mujh Par
- 2018: Pataakha in Hello Hello
As producer
- 2010: Dabangg – Filmfare Award for Best Film, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
- 2012: Dabangg 2
- 2015: Dolly Ki Doli
Television
| Year | Name | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Nach Baliye | Judge | Star Plus | First two seasons |
| 2008 | Zara Nachke Dikha | Star One | ||
| 2008 | Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan | Herself | NDTV Imagine | |
| 2009 | Perfect Bride | Judge | Star Plus | |
| 2010 2015 |
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa | Sony TV Colors TV |
Seasons 4 and 8 | |
| 2015 | Swaragini | Herself | Colors TV | |
| 2012–present | India’s Got Talent | Judge | Colors TV | Season 4 onwards |
| 2017–present | India’s Next Top Model | Host/Main Judge | MTV India | Season 3 onwards |
| 2019 | MTV Supermodel of the Year | Host/Main Judge | MTV (Indian TV channel) | Season One |
| 2020 | India’s Best Dancer | Judge | Sony Entertainment Television |
Album
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Gur Naal Ishq Mitha |