Actress Malaika Arora Khan, whose popular dance numbers like 'Chaiyya Chaiyya', 'Munni Badnam Hui' have raised the bar for her contemporaries to match her style, finds the item girl tag "derogatory and silly".
"I don't like the term 'item girl'... Why not look at it (item song) as a special song?...A song that is creating a hype and entertainment. I find it derogatory and silly," Malaika told PTI in an interview.
Unlike in the past, currently mainstream actresses like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and others are also doing special songs in different films.
When asked if the leading ladies are intruding the space, Malaika said she did not think so.
"There is enough work for everyone. Everybody has a role or part to play, if somebody fits the bill that is what matters," she added.
Malaika, whose song 'Munni Badnam Hui' in Bollywood film 'Dabangg' (2010) was a hit, says nothing interesting has come up in terms of special dance numbers.
The actress is back to judge yet another season of television series of reality show, 'India's Got Talent'.
"Last time, I was there for half the season. This time I am getting the feel of everything as I am there from beginning. Previously, I was there from elimination part and it was tough. This time it is insane amount of work. In a day we have 20-25 acts minimum," Malaika said.
On the talent pool at 'India's Got Talent', she said some of the acts pulled off by contestants in the current fifth season are breathtaking.
"Some of the acts this season are hysterical, beyond anyone's comprehension. The acts are breathtaking, mind blowing, death defying and amazing. I don't think there is any show which provides you a platform to showcase varied kind of talent from all over the country," she said. Malaika says disqualifying contestants is a tough call.
"Everybody comes with a background... A story. We try to dwell into their personal lives, we ask them where they come from, interact with them... It brings out the real aspect of the show.
"Despite the kind of conditions that they have been living in they still pursue their talent, something that they want to show to the world. It is difficult to say no but we have no choice but to follow the format," Malaika said.
Besides Malaika, filmmaker Karan Johar and actress Kirron Kher are other judges for the show to be aired on Colors.
Though Malaika has proved herself as a dancer on screen, but one format she wants to learn is belly dancing.
"I would love to learn popping, locking and robotics, gymnastics and acrobatics, it is amazing to learn these things. I know basic thing about belly dancing but not the technicalities, I want to learn it. I want to learn belly dancing. I wish to learn more of dancing. I have been associated with dance since long time but yet there is so much more to learn about it," she said.
Malaika says the space of belly dancing is largely unexplored in Bollywood movies.
"We have done a few steps here and there in films, whether Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif they all have done it but not the real part. There is no one who has actually done belly dancing on screen.
"We just know how to move a bit here and there. But there is lot more to it like -- the way the one moves their body, the rhythm they have, muscle control, etc, it is not easy. I want to go little deeper into belly dancing and learn it," she added. Besides belly dancing, the 40-year-old actress would like to do some bike stunts and acrobatics, which she says fascinate her.
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