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Mallika: Salman is sweet as a jalebi

Double Dhamaal, which naturally is the sequel to the 2007 Dhamaal, releases this Friday with Mallika Sherawat and Kangna Ranaut as the female leads, and Inder Kumar as director. Mallika's song Jalebi Bai is already making waves. Here, she talks about the song, her other item numbers - and Barrack Obama.

What should we expect from Double Dhamaal?

Double Dhamaal is my first family entertainer and I liked acting in it because it has lots of gags and comedy. Every character has lots of get-ups in the film like Arshad (Warsi) is Sardar Ghanta Singh, and Ashish (Chaudhary) plays a Spanish dancer. Some one is Chinese, someone else Guajarati. I enjoyed shooting it so much that I am sure when you watch it on the big screen you will like it too.

Dhamaal was a hit, do you think there is lots of expectation from you now?

Double Dhamaal will live up to the audience's expectation. It is a good film.

Tell us about the song Jalebi Bai.

First of all I am playing the lead in the movie, plus it is an honour that the director has made a special song for me that makes me feel very special. The song has been shot well. Ganesh Acharya is the choreographer.

This is the best song of my career; I think I should touch Inderji's feet for this. My fans will love it.

'I am used to people making fun of me'

Comedy is a difficult genre, how difficult was it for you?

 It is difficult to make people laugh.

Tell us about your character.

I play a con artist. In fact all the characters in this film are con artists. My character cons her husband too.

What is Inder Kumar's strong point as a director?

Inderji captures human emotions be it romance or family drama or about friendship -- that is his strong point. If you see his films like Dil, Beta he has shown complex relationships and emotions, and that is his strong point. He is good at comedy too and had a big hit in comedy.

What do you need to play a comic role successfully?

First, the ability to laugh at yourself. Everybody make fun of me so I am very used to it and so comedy comes naturally to me.

In this film all the four boys Arshad, Riteish (Deshmukh), Ashish and Jaaved (Jaaferi) always make fun of me. Sanjay Dutt and Kangna and I, we make fun of them. So we are two teams in this film and we have competition amongst ourselves.

'I would like to give the handmade jalebis to Barrack Obama'

Tell us some funny incident that occurred on the sets?

A lot of funny incidents happened on the sets, but the funniest was when Arshad came in his sardar make-up and on his tie it was written 'Ghanta Singh'. I did not recognise him. I told our director 'who is this sardar roaming on our sets? I think he is some stupid fan, ask him to leave, he is taking photographs'. Inderji said he is our very own Arshad!

Ashish was also unrecognisable in his girl's make-up. He looked very sexy. I gave him lots of tips especially on how to walk in heeled shoes. Boys think it is easy to wear heels and walk but when Ashish had to walk in pencil heels, he admitted, 'it is tough, it is not easy being a girl'!.

What was tough to shoot in Double Dhamaal?

The songs of Double Dhamaal were very tough because they involved lots of dancing. Ganesh Acharya turned me into a dancer.

To whom would you like to give the jalebis that you yourself made?

I would like to give the handmade jalebis to (Barrack) Obama, among directors to Inder Kumar and actors to Sanjay Dutt and my whole Double Dhamaal team.

Why not the Indian Prime Minister? Why the American President?

Because I know the American President and I have met him too, but I am yet to meet our Prime Minister and President so when I meet them I will feed them jalebis too.

'I did Mehbooba because Himesh offered me good money'

Tell us about your conversation with President Obama.

He was very gracious, I am doing this movie Love Barrack so I called him for the premier of the film and he graciously accepted and he said give my love to Bollywood.

Do you know how to cook?

I can make juice.

You are doing fewer films but many item numbers, are you not being offered many films?

In Double Dhamaal Inder Kumar has offered me a good role. I have always done very selective films from the beginning of my career. It's no different now. I am doing very selective films and I am very lucky to get this part and work with a great director like Inder Kumar.

Do you think you are the ultimate queen with so many item songs?

I don't think so. I did Jalebi because I play the lead plus I got a special song. I did Shalu (Bin Bulaye Baarati) because I was offered good money.

I did Mayya mayya (Guru) because the filmmaker Mani Ratnam and the composer A R Rahman are very good in their field, and I did Mehbooba because Himesh offered me good money.

'I am who I am because of Bollywood'

Which male actor is sweet as jalebi in the industry?

Salman Khan for sure.

It is said that Katrina Kaif and Malaika Arora Khan feel that you copy their dance steps, that you are not innovative.

Don't watch me, change the channel, it is a democratic country, you can watch what you want. Dance steps are choreographed by the choreographer.

The censor was upset with your clothes in the song.

What is new in that? Since the time my career has started the censor has been on my back.

You always prefer Hollywood over Bollywood. Why?

That is not true. I am who I am because of Bollywood and my Indian fans. Bollywood is the most important thing to me in my life and my career