I WOULD LOVE TO SHAKE A LEG WITH PAWAN

I WOULD LOVE TO SHAKE A LEG WITH PAWAN

Says Malaika Arora Khan, who is ready to reprise her Munni act in the Pawan Kalyan-starrer 'Gabbar Singh', the Telugu remake of 'Dabangg'

Sarah Salvadore

India's item queen is all set to dance her way into Tollyland now. After setting the screen on fire with the biggest hit of 2010, "Munni Badnaam Hui", Malaika Arora Khan is ready to recreate the same magic once again. The actor will shimmy and shake in an item number for the Pawan Kalyan-starrer "Gabbar Singh", the official Telugu remake of "Dabangg".
"I'm really excited about doing an item number in "Gabbar Singh"," said Malaika. "I've become really choosy about the item numbers I do these days because they are a dime a dozen now. After "Munni Badnaam" in 2010, I didn't do any song till "Anarkali Disco Chali" in Sajid Khan's "Housefull2"," she added. Quiz her on why she accepted to do the number in a Telugu film, and she is quick to respond, "Why won't I say yes? It's the official remake of "Dabangg" and since I was part of the original, the makers of the Telugu remake wanted me to be part of the movie through this song. I think it will be a kick ass experience. And I have always been fascinated by the dance routines in the South."
Malaika however, didn't repeat her Munni act in "Osthe", the Tamil remake of "Dabangg" starring Simbu. It was Mallika Sherawat who sizzled in the item song instead. "As far as the Tamil film goes, things did not work out for whatever reason. But Mallika did the number there. This time however, things are different. I'm excited about the Telugu number," points out Malaika, who adds, "I just loved the Telugu number when I heard it. It's peppy, catchy and has all the right ingredients. However, I can't talk much about the look or choreography yet, as we have not finalized it. We are still working on it."
This is not the first time Malaika will be doing an item number in Telugu. In 2007, the actor did a jig with s u p e r s t a r Mahesh Babu in the film "Athidhi". "That was a long time back. After I did the song in "Athidhi", I did not take up any offers from Telugu cinema as nothing really interested me. But "Gabbar Singh" is really exciting. Plus, the South heroes are good dancers. And I'm really looking forward to shake a leg with Pawan," says Malaika.
With her husband Arbaaz Khan taking over the reins of "Dabangg 2" and the film already going on floors, one can't but help ask if she would be part of the much-anticipated sequel. "Yes, since I was part of the original, I'm sure I'll be there in the sequel too. But the director has still not decided in what capacity will I be used in the film," Malaika quips.
sarah.salvadore@timesgroup.com