Article Updated 28 March, 2004 06:15:22 PM IST   Mallika Sherawat By Our Correspondent ©2004 Bollyvista.com   Struggling to acquire the tag of India's sex symbol, Mallika Sherawat has virtually dropped her clothes to clinch the 'coveted'(?) title. Mallika started out as a small-time model and actress from Delhi called Reema Lamba before she re-christened herself Mallika Sherawat (the second name is reportedly her maiden one). The rumour is that she was already married to one, Capt. Gill from Delhi, but sadly, the marriage didn't exactly work! A small-town girl (from Rohtak in Haryana), Mallika always had stars in her eyes and was determined to pursue the glamour profession and give it all it took to make it! Even though her conservative father was dead against her decision (he still is!), Mallika defied his wishes and moved to Mumbai to carve a niche for herself in the big bad world of showbiz! Mallika did a number of ad films including the Santro ad with Shah Rukh Khan. Not many know that 'Khwahish' (with Himanshu Mallik) was not her debut. Before 'Khwahish', she played a supporting role in Vashu Bhagnani's flop, 'Jeena Sirf Merre Liye' (Tusshar & Kareena Kapoor), which she prefers to forget. Govind Menon's B-grade 'Khwahish' made Mallika the cynosure of virile eyes especially when she went around town discussing the seventeen smooches she had done! The fact that she stripped down to her bare essentials and engage in heavyduty love-making sequences only added to her 'popularity'! In Mahesh Bhatt's small-budget 'Murder' (a remake of 'Unfaithful'), she's kissing not one, but two men, giving the phrase 'a bird in hand is worth two in the bush' a completely different meaning! Featuring newcomers Ashmit 'Inteha' Patel and Emraan 'Footpath' Hashmi, Mallika has done whatever a traditional Indian actress wouldn't in the film, to get to the top! The film, which is releasing this week, has been sold at a throwaway price to distributors. To that extent, it might easily recover its money thanks to the sex element, compelling Mallika and the Bhatts to tout it as a hit! The question is, will it take Mallika, the starlet, to the bracket of an A-grade star?   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/36/2196