Stop press!
Source: The Times Of India

Mallika Sherawat is nervous, very nervous. After hibernating for a year-and-a-half, she's rising out of a self-imposed media exile.

"I'm nervous as hell. It's been a while. But ask me why I've been off the media? I'd love to say this on record, 'every actor is expected to butter up journos, say nice things to them, put on a happy face, give bytes about your life -- you're expected to play along with this template.

That would help you sell tickets, help the movie. I did just that. When I joined the industry I was very honest and forthright to all reporters. But then what happened? They started putting words in my mouth, started focusing on controversy; I grew sick and tired of irrelevant questions that had nothing to do with my profession. To top it all, my answers were distorted all the time. That's when I decided 'halt'! And I went off press."

Maybe somewhere, her image of being this great 'Quote Queen' contributed to that. "I guess some of them come from a culture where they sensationalise all and sell all. Yes, it hurt me a lot and embarrassed my family. They were so embarrassed by me that they even questioned 'Mallika what is this we're reading now?' There was a time when I'd do anything and everything to get attention and now I spend all day hiding. Just look at the contrast."

In a forthcoming film, she is acting with Rahul Bose, who is half her height. "I had a wonderful time working with him. Whenever there was an intimate scene, they'd give him a five-inch high stool on which he'd stand for that scene. But Rahul is very intelligent. He uses big big words. He's very intellectual," she says.

And John Abraham? There was plenty of steamy talk about the two during their shows abroad... enough to make Bipasha insecure.

"Look, I never mix business with pleasure. I've come to Bollywood to work. The possibility of me having a relationship with anyone from Bollywood doesn't exist. The rumours about me dating an Italian might be true. There was no problem during the shows either. If I have personal issues where I'm working, it would be harmful for me. It's not good business sense. You harm yourself in the long run."