Bollywood Mallika's Special News

Making Mallika look sexy!

It doesn't take much to make Mallika Sherawat look hot. The actress has always looked sexy in her movies, from Khwahish to Pyaar Ke Side Effects.

But her turn in Mehbooba, the song in Himesh Reshammiya's Aap Ka Suroor raises the notch even higher. Mallika looks stunning in her version of Helen's dance in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975).

And it's all thanks to fashion designer Ashley Rebello.

Ashley has worked with many stars like Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Priyanka Chopra, Karisma Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen, but he shares an especially good relationship with Mallika.

The duo have worked together in quite a few films.

Ashley tells us about his favourite Mallika designs. Have a look.

Aap Kaa Suroor: The Moviee: The Real Luv Story

Mallika's most-talked about outfit in Aap Kaa Suroor is the one she wears in the Mehbooba song.

The briefing given to me was that the outfits had to be similar to that worn by Helen in the original song. So I designed an outfit with the same colour combinations.

But after Mallika's dance around the campfire, the song shifts to a casino. The costume changes to a skin coloured gown, with embroidery at strategic places.

Mallika trusted me totally for these outfits, and did not give me much advice.



Dasavatharam

In Dasavatharam, Mallika plays an ultra-glamorous girl, and has to look hot and sexy.

Kamal Haasan, whom she is paired opposite, explained to me what kind of a look he wanted for the film, and for her. In a particular song where she plays a Las Vegas showgirl, she looks outstanding.

I still remember the last season of Koffee With Karan. Everyone critisied her; nobody wanted to come with her on the show. In the second season, she was invited with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. That was possible because of her sheer will power. She is a role model for women today.



Guru

Guru was a slightly period film. Mallika was briefed by Mani Ratnam about the outfit, and she told me. She wanted the costume to look like the era gone by - it should have a Marilyn Monroe look.

I decided on the colour, fabric, texture, and embroidery accordingly. She was terrific in the song, Maiya Maiya -- the way she swayed her body was awesome.

I don't accompany her on her outdoor shootings - actually, it depends on the film and the production house. Whenever she goes outdoors, I just send her the costumes. If there is a problem in the fitting, she manages on her own.

But during Guru, I had to send her new costumes when she faced a problem. Apart from the main costume for the song, I had to send her two tight-fighting dresses. She wears three outfits in the song.



Pyaar Ka Side Effects

PKSE gave her a lot of recognition. It was a change for both of us. She had to look glamorous and simple but at the same time. The role demanded that she looked sweet and vulnerable, and glamorous at the same time. She carried off the costumes fabulously well.

Rongita Nandy briefed me and said that I should use dresses that weren't too short. Long skirts would look cool because she was shown working in an ad agency as an executive.



Bachke Rehna Re Baba

In BRRB, she had to look extremely sexy. She plays a con woman, with a clean heart. For her, love was an important factor.

We had use sexy costumes like swimsuits and baby-doll like costumes. The costumes here are perfect - the design, colours, fabric, and style gelled well.

Mallika contributes a lot to her costumes. She tells me her opinions about the costume, and her do's and don'ts. But all said and done, she trusts me completely.

Watching Mallika turn Mehbooba

In life, there come moments when you goggle.

It is abject helplessness as you -- forgetting even to flounder for the right words -- lose your rationality, your articulation, heck, any sort of coherence. You stand, stare, and hope that bewildered smile on your face is acceptable.

Such a moment it was, then, when I ran into Mallika Sherawat last week. In clockwork harmony, I arrived just in time, was ushered towards a big white trailer, and told ma'am would see me now. Fab. I entered, and turned to my right to see Mme Mallika, larger than life and thrice as spectacular, disarmingly dressed in full regalia.

'Do you like it?' she asked with a big smile, as we shook hands. 'It' was Helen's exact dress from Sholay, a bright green shiny top, a flouncy skirt made up of saffron and the same green, and Ms Sherawat's distinctive body, poured through it in a way that made your head spin. Plus, a crazy retro wig, Medusa ringlets crafted compellingly together in a careful mess.

"Yurg," I believe I manfully declared, as I continued the aforementioned goggle. She smiled, sat back, mercifully pulled a robe around her, and we started to talk.