Bollywood actress tear gassed during botched robbery in Paris

In this May 19, 2016 file photo, actress Mallika Sherawat poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 69th Cannes international film festival, in Cap d'Antibes, southern France. (AP)

Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat and partner Cyrille Auxenfans were the targets of a botched robbery attempt involving tear gas in a wealthy area of Paris, the Paris prosecutor's office said Thursday.

Suspected robbers attacked the couple last Friday night in the building where Auxenfans lives in Paris' 16th arrondissement but fled empty-handed, according to spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre.

It's unclear why the suspects fled. A criminal inquiry has been opened into the incident.

Prosecutors said the couple most likely inhaled fumes from the tear gas. Officials say Auxenfans was most likely harmed by the suspects but that the couple refused to see a doctor to assess possible injuries.

They said Sherawat was not thought to have been physically harmed in the attack.

Rising to fame in India in 2003, the Bollywood actress went on to star in a string of high-profile movies including "Myth" with Jackie Chan and has a racy, sex-symbol image in her home country.

Sherawat, 40, who has nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, is no stranger to France and has graced the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.

The case comes six weeks after Kim Kardashian reported being robbed at gunpoint while visiting Paris.