From Honey Singh to SRK: Malala opens up about her love for Bollywood

The young activist isn't very different from the average Pakistani teenager afterall

The youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner may make headlines for her bravery and accomplishments, but at the end of the day she is still a teenager and sibling rivalries and celebrity crushes are very much a part of her life.

In an interview with Times of India, Malala Yousafzai got candid and opened up about her favourite Bollywood star, film and much more.

When asked about what interests her in her free time, Malala said she listens to music and watches movies like the rest of us. “I love listening to peppy music - rap by Honey Singh. I also watch films with my friends and go to restaurants. The last movie I watched was Bajrangi Bhaijaan and loved it. I clapped non-stop when the film ended.”



She also revealed that she found the toilet humour in Bollywood movie Piku hilarious -- it always makes her laugh out loud. Apart from movies, the 18-year-old used to enjoy watching Indian dramas when she was in Pakistan, however now that she's living in the UK, her busy schedule doesn't allow her to watch those shows.

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Her favourite Bollywood actor is King Khan. “I think Shah Rukh Khan possesses some kind of a Midas touch. Whatever he does is absolutely perfect. I love all his films which I've watched, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge being an all-time favourite,” she gushed.

Explaining her love for Bollywood flicks, Malala said it’s because she “relates to Indian culture the most” as everything ranging from clothes to food is similar to Pakistani culture, just “more stylish and grand.”



Unsurprisingly, her favourite food is Pakistani biryani with spicy Indian curry, something she craves for in the UK. She also revealed that her mother wants her to learn to cook before she leaves for university.

On the style front, Malala’s signature red shawl shows her love for the traditional outfit for girls in the Swat region. Her favourite colour is pink though and her wrist-watch -- which has a pink dial -- is her favourite accessory.

PHOTO: IBTIMES.CO.UK

The 18-year-old also likes to watch cricket, her favourites being Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi. She also has a passion for travelling to new locations. “I love Dubai because the weather is ideal (respite from the damp, cold conditions in the UK). I have cousins and relatives there. We go to malls or spend evenings, chatting,” she added.



Speaking about her siblings and their reaction to her fame, Malala shared what her 10-year-old brother said to her: “You may have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but at home you dare not behave like the boss!”

She also admitted that they still fight, mostly about education. “Whenever I go to their room and ask them to study instead of playing, they start fighting with me. ‘Give speeches elsewhere’, is a very common refrain at my home,” she said laughing.

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When it comes to her father though, she bonds with him over history, which is also her favourite subject at school. “We go on long walks and talk about history - Hitler and Stalin make for our favourite meal-time conversation,” she stated.

And after all this time, she is still uncomfortable facing a camera and gets nervous before giving speeches. “It makes me conscious. I am better off giving speeches. But before important gatherings, I practice my words many times over. On the eve of the UN speech, I had a sleepless night. In the morning, I could barely eat.”



When asked about the incident when she was shot, Malala innocently shared how surreal it was. “From the time I was shot in the head to the day when I woke up after surgery - those hours have been completely erased from my memory. When people tell me that I was shot point blank, I feel they are talking about some other person. My mother is very scared after the incident. She panics if I'm not back home in time.”