As Kamala Harris prepares for the November 2024 US presidential elections, a resurfaced 2009 prediction by Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat has captured public attention. Sherawat, who has long admired Harris for her self-made political career, had earlier suggested that Harris could one day become President of the United States. This remark, made over a decade ago, is now circulating widely on social media as Harris has officially become the Democratic presidential candidate following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race last month.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Sherawat praised Harris for her achievements, noting the rarity of female politicians from non-dynastic backgrounds in India. “Coming from India, female politicians are so rare. If they are there, they come from a very dynastic or royal family. Here I was meeting a lady who had built everything with her own two hands,” Sherawat said. This admiration was evident in her 2009 tweet, which has recently gone viral. At the time, Sherawat posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Having fun at a fancy event with a woman who they say could be US President, Kamala Harris. Chicks rule.”
Sherawat had met Harris at a Beverly Hills fundraiser in 2009, where she felt out of place but was comforted by Harris’s encouraging words. Harris advised Sherawat on the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to build character. Sherawat recalled that Harris’s down-to-earth demeanor and inspiring goals made a lasting impression on her. “For want of a better term, she was like one of us—a normal person with inspiring goals,” Sherawat reflected.
The actress’s connection to Harris also extended to Sherawat’s role in the 2011 indie film Politics of Love, where she played a campaign worker inspired by Harris. Govind Menon, one of the film’s producers, noted that the political climate at the time was less divisive compared to today, making the film’s portrayal of political campaigns different from current realities.
Sherawat’s prediction about Harris’s future has gained renewed interest as Harris gears up for the presidential race. If elected, Kamala Harris would not only make history as the first woman President but also as the first Black woman to hold the office.
Sherawat’s admiration for Harris and her prophetic remark from 2009 underscore the significant milestones Harris has achieved on her path to potentially becoming the highest officeholder in the United States.
