Rani Mukherjee performs three item songs in Aiyyaa

Mumbai: Item numbers are a big rage in Bollywood and several big stars like Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and Vidya Balan have done special songs in recent times. The latest to join the bandwagon is actress Rani Mukherjee, who has performed not one, but three item numbers in the film Aiyyaa. These songs include a belly dance song,– a south Indian dance number and a 'lavani'. They are distinct and planned to go with the flow of the story.

Rani Mukherjee attended the official launch of the south Indian song 'Dreamum Wakeupm'. Talking to PTI, the actress said, "The songs come in her dreams. All songs are part of her fantasy. Sachin gave us an opportunity to do three songs. They are different. To everybody, it may seem like item songs but they are very important songs in the film and part of the narrative."

The over-the-top dance number is a fantasy song, a dream sequence between Rani and her south Indian fantasy man Surya, played by south actor Prithviraj. Rani Mukherjee said, "'Dreamum Wakeupm' is a south Indian song. Thanks to my hottie hero Surya, she (my character) goes into his world and that is what her imagination is."

For her second item song in the film, Rani had to learn belly dancing. Rani Mukherjee said, "'Aag Bai Halla Machae Re' song will come out in two weeks. Sachin wanted to talk about a woman's fantasy and how she lusts for a man. Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant added her touch to this song by asking me to learn belly dance for it."

Considering she is playing a Marathi girl in Aiyyaa, Rani Mukherjee has also performed a lavani. She said, "Sachin wanted a lavani number as my character Meenakshi Deshmukh is a Marathi girl. So Sachin wanted that introduction in a lavani number and hence that song. Vaibhavi researched a lot on lavani steps and gave her own touch."

Produced by Anurag Kashyap and Viacom 18, the film Aiyyaa releases on October 12.