Emraan snubs Mallika at <i>Murder</i> party

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Emraan Hashmi is miffed with uncle Mahesh Bhatt. The reason? Bhatt asked him to share the stage with not-so-good-friend Mallika Sherawat at the celebrations for Zeher, Murder and Gangster at The Club on Monday.

Apparently, Mallika made a timely entry only around the time when the awards for Murder were announced.

And Emraan, who was already on stage, stepped down the minute Sherawat stepped up, infuriating Bhatt who pulled him up for his behaviour.

'I don't like her'

Says Emraan resentfully, "I was forced to share the stage with Mallika because Bhatt saab asked me to. He called me aside and pulled me up for my behaviour. He said that this wasn't the proper way to behave. I've been honest about my dislike for Mallika. In fact, we don't even speak, so why pretend? When Bhatt saab doesn't like somebody, he doesn't even entertain that person. Why can't I do the same?"

Problems between Emraan and Mallika erupted during the promotional tours for Murder, the most exasperating bit being her tendency to hog the limelight with suggestive quotes. Since then, the actors haven't been on talking terms.

Says Emraan, "Mallika and I had certain differences of opinion and I don't want to talk about them anymore. Bhatt saab told me that I should grow up and forget the incident, but I'm sorry, I can't. I can't give Mallika the warm welcome she thinks she deserves, because I don't have warm feelings for her. But I'm not ill-mannered. I will not misbehave with her. So I went on stage, we met each other cordially and that was it."

Foot-in-mouth?

Even though they shared tremendous on-screen chemistry, the two actors haven't spoken to each other for the last three years. Says Emraan, "Yes, ever since we came back from the promotional tours for Murder, we haven't met or spoken to each other. Since then, my relationship with her has been cordial and professional. If we were offered a film together, I would do it for professional reasons."

Says a source close to the actor, "Emraan was upset with Mallika because he felt she was trying to hog the limelight post Murder. As far as the event on Monday is concerned, Emraan was irritated because in a recent interview Mallika had implied that Zeher was a flop because she wasn't in the film. He resents such things. Mallika opted out Zeher for reasons best known to her."

Emraan is firm when he says, "Zeher was a hit. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be celebrating its golden jubilee on Monday. Let people say what they want."

Recent Stories
Glam&Glory: Spoilt star kids?
Aditya Chopra on Kabul Express

Archives