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Know the real names of Bollywood's Hottest Girls?
Contrary to the common Shakespearean refrain 'What's in a name', a person's name is a huge deal in show business.
Many legendary actors acquired a screen name to ensure success, right from Dilip Kumar, whose real name is Yusuf Khan to Nargis (born Fatima Rashid) and Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano).
Today's item girls are following the tradition!
Kingfisher model Mallika Haydon, who appears in her first Hindi film with two dance numbers in Agent Vinod, just happens to be the latest entrant in this group.
The hottie's real name is Maia Haydon.
Here's looking at other Bollywood hotties who we know by their more popular screen names.
Nathalia Kaur
Curiously-named Brazilian hottie Nathalia Kaur is making her movie debut with a sizzling hot item song in Ram Gopal Varma's new film Department.
She's creating quite a buzz even though we are yet to see the first glimpses of the film.
Despite her popularity, few fans know that her real name is Nathalia Pinheiro.
Yana Gupta
Czech model Yana Gupta, who burst on our television screens with her popular item number Bijli giri from Viveik Oberoi-starrer Dum, had quite a few prestigious modelling assignments to her credit before the song happened.
Her real name is Jana Synkova.
She married Indian artist Satyakam Gupta in 2001 and even though the couple divorced in 2005, Yana has kept the surname.
Shilpa Shetty
Soon-to-be mum Shilpa Shetty was at her prime in the 1990s but really hit the big league when she won UK's celebrity Big Brother, met and married UK-based businessman Raj Kundra and released a hit yoga DVD.
Despite being in the limelight constantly, the actress-entreprenuer has managed to keep her real name low key.
Her actual name is Ashwini Shetty which still figures on her passport and other legal documents. The actress was reported as saying that her name was changed when she was in her teens and is more used to being called Shilpa.
Mallika Sherawat
Mallika Sherawat is back in India after a short stint in Los Angeles, home to Hollywood and its stars.
Did you know that before this scorcher started her showbiz career, her name was Reema Lamba?
Sherlyn Chopra
Actress/model Sherlyn Chopra, who recently gave a birthday treat to her fans by posting nude pictures on her website, has mostly acted in B-grade Hindi films like Red and Swastik.
Her real name is Mona Chopra.
Jiah Khan
Actress Jiah Khan set many hearts aflutter with her scorching hot turn as a teen with lush hair and a penchant for skimpy denim shorts in Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabd.
The actress's real name is Nafisa Khan.
Rakhi Sawant
Motor mouth Rakhi Sawant belongs to this bandwagon as well.
Before becoming a C-string demanding celebrity, this item girl was called Neeru Sawant.
Nisha Kothari
Ram Gopal Varma's last muse Nisha Kothari appeared in a couple of forgettable films like James and Shiva before fading into oblivion.
Word is, she's still trying to revive her career. Thsi starlet's real name is Priyanka Kothari.
Preity Zinta
Actress Preity Zinta, who's making a comeback of sorts with a film titled Ishkq in Paris, has a name that most people don't know about.
Her real name is Preetam Singh Zinta.