Bollywood actress and model Mallika Sherawat was tear gassed and beaten up by masked intruders in her own apartment block in Paris, the police has said.

The attack comes barely a month after reality TV star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a neighbouring apartment.

According to the Le Parisien newspaper, the criminals wore scarves across their faces, and sprayed and punched their victims without saying a word, after which they ran away.

Sherawat, who was with her friend Cyrille Auxenfans, then called the police.

A criminal investigation has been launched.

Sherawat has previously spoken out against the number of attacks on women in her home country of India, including honour killings and gang rapes.