The Hottest Item Numbers of 2010

Whether it's a political thriller or an out-and-out comedy, Bollywood filmmakers are forever eager to squeeze in a smouldering hot item number. 

Though the scene was surprisingly tepid this year, the presence of a certain Munni, followed by Sheila, appears to have more than made up for this dry spell. 

On that note, here's a look at the Top Item Numbers of 2010:

Munni Badnaam Hui, Dabangg

Without doubt, Malaika Arora Khan walks away with top honors for gyrating hersexy, slim frame to the infectious, energetic beats of  her home-production Dabangg's rambunctious chartbuster, Munni badnaam hui alongside an equally charged Salman Khan.

A far cry from her demure 'n' dainty imagery, Katrina Kaif breaks into a raunchy new avatar as Sheila for choreographer turned filmmaker Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan.

While the song itself is nothing extraordinary, Kat's in-your-face seduction and vigorous belly shaking is as hot as it gets.

Model Gauhar Khan captures the flamboyant spirit and kitschy fashion of the1970s in the retro-inspired Parda, a nifty mish-mash of RD's Monica, Oh my darling (Caravan) and Duniya mein logon ko (Apna Desh) from the hit underworld drama, Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai.

If Sajid Khan's Heyy Babyy showcased Shah Rukh Khan boogie woogie talents in Mast kalander, his follow-up comedy, Housefull ropes in the film's leading male troika Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal to serenade the ravishing Sri Lankan import, Jacqueline Fernandez in Dhanno, a rehashed version of Laawaris' super-hit Aapka kya hoga.

Prakash Jha's movies are on the intense side, often making a strong statement on the murkier aspects of society.

But that doesn't dissuade him from introducing an item song into the grim proceedings.

That explains television star Barkha Bisht's dishy nightclub treat, Ishq barse in Jha's contemporary adaptation of the mythological epic, Mahabharata.

In Priyadarshan's rip-off of Hollywood's Missisippi Burning, Sameera Reddy struts her stuff in a lustful dance Isak se meetha, along the lines of Shilpa Shetty's UP, Bihar lootne (Shool) to whistle-inducing results.

Brazilian hottie Maria Gomez leaves very little for the imagination in her skimpy and seductive outing in Teen Patti's appropriately titled item song, Neeyat kharab hai.

Too bad all that oomph failed to set the box office on fire.

What's a Priyadarshan flick without an item number? Another one from his movies this year makes it on our list.

This one's from Khatta Meetha, a purported satire that made more news for its hero Akshay Kumar questionable publicity stunts.

Even so Akki, accompanied by a midriff-flaunting Kainaat Arora, infuses his trademark energy to match the vocal vigour of Daler Mehendi in Aila re aila.