Item girl Malaika moves on, signs lead role in 'EMI'

Mumbai, Dec 25 (IANS) Malaika Arora, who is seen in an item song in Anees Bazmi's recently released 'Welcome', is finally doing a full-length leading role in Suniel Shetty's production 'EMI'.

She has no item song in the film.

'Actually, I'm quite nervous. It's a new challenge. I do have songs. In fact, my track is the only one with music. But all the songs are completely story-centric,' she told IANS.

'The filmwas perfect for me because it needed just 10-15 days. There're lots of actors and four-five parallel stories in the plot. And besides they're shooting a stone's throw away from my house. I made it clear that I'd shoot only those hours that suited my son. Really, I don't need to break my head over the schedule,' she added.

She is all praise for Suniel's thoughtfulness.

'Suniel has made it so easy for me. More than Suneil I'm very fond of his wife Mana. She's a real sweetheart. Also I'm cast opposite Arjun Rampal. People say we make a really good screen pair. I'd like to believe that.'

And she'd also like to do a full-fledged role opposite her husband.

'My husband's brothers are getting together to remake 'Amar Akbar Anthony'. They better offer me the role opposite Arbaaz,' Malaika chuckles hopefully.

Tell her one is tired of seeing her do only item songs, albeit in sizzling shape, and Malaika squeals, 'For me, working in a set-up where I'm not comfortable is a no-no. I wouldn't work with any and every body because item numbers are not a huge career high. I do them for the passion of dancing.'

'I always had other more important things, like my husband and son, to look into. These are things that mean more to me. That's why I've never gone too far down the road of a film career,' she added.

The actress, who scorched the screen by shaking a leg with Shah Rukh Khan in 'Chaiyya chaiyya' and 'Kaal' songs, says that she did the 'Welcome' number for her friends' sake.

'Producer Feroz Nadiadwala and choreographer Ahmed Khan had asked me to do songs for them long back. In my typical way I was positive but evasive. This time I couldn't say no,' said Malaika.

'An added incentive was that the unusual combo of Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor were dancing with me. The duo are doing their thing while I try to be all glam-and-lovely. Honestly, I had a ball shooting the song in 'Welcome'.'