The Politics of Love star said that it felt "great" to be representing Bollywood at the festival.
© PA Images / David Azia/AP
[Mallika Sherawat attends the amFAR gala at the 64th Cannes Film Festival, May 2011]
Speaking to Digital Spy, Sherawat said: "I seem to have become a regular here. People seem to be liking me. I like it. I like the fact that it's a cultural melting pot so you get all the European filmmakers, you get all the Middle Eastern filmmakers. That's the whole international, global appeal of Cannes.
"I'm here representing Bollywood. It feels great that our industry is finally being recognised. Even when I went to the Oscars and when I met Barack Obama, he asked me, 'Are you from Bollywood? Am I going to get to pose next to a Bollywood star?' He was amazing."
Speaking about the impact of India's stars on the international arena, Sherawat added: "It feel nice to be recognised in Hollywood, but what's really important for me is my people, my home, my Bollywood and my own Indian people. The fact that I'm received so warmly out here.
Sherawat said that as well as representing Indian cinema, she is also attending the festival in support of amFAR.
"I don't have a film at the festival this year. I'm here for amFAR," she explained. "It became very close to me because one of my very close friends has been HIV positive for the past twenty years and when amFAR invited me, I thought, 'I must go to show support'.
"I've been pushing them to come to India because India has become such a global hotspot for HIV issues."
Sherawat, who will make her first appearance on the red carpet today (May 18), said of her outfit: "There's a very famous visual artist in France who is especially creating an outfit for me, so I'll be wearing this tomorrow. It will be amazing."
