NORTH MEETS SOUTH

Malaika was born to a Punjabi Merchant Navy officer and a malyali mother.  The confluence of North and South blends beautifully in Malaika.  She has a svelte figure to die for, a sensual dusky colour and a photogenic face.  She shot to fame as a model.  She was taken on the cover of Society magazine, after her photographs were noticed by the editor of that magazine.  She bagged many prestigious modelling contracts.  She was seen in a very forgettable movie, Aaja Meri Jaan, which was lead by 'stars' like Kishen Kumar and Tanya.

EYEBALL GRABBER

An eyeball grabber like Malaika cannot be in the back-office for long. She moved up from modelling to veejaying. She was frequent on MTV as their veejay.  The promos featuring Malaika dwelt on her hot bod and bindaas attitude.  She was soon put on a couch to present shows like MTV Loveline.  In the initial days she seems hesitant and unsure.  Soon, she was joined by the naughty Cyrus Broacha and the show became a huge hit.  She gained poise as she went along, and soon started presenting MTV Style solo.  The show was another big hit, with girls aspiring to look like her tuning in to pick up tips on style.  Ever since Malaika left, the show has not been the same.

MTV Loveline was a call-in show for love advice.  People would call in and discuss their love problems.  Cyrus would give some kind of a funny advice, and then Malaika would cut in with 'sensible' advice.  The ambience of the show was cheesy and kitschy with lots of heart shaped cushions, red curtains and a huge sexy couch.  Broacha was usually dressed in casuals and seated in one corner.  Malaika was usually dressed in something skimpy and showed her long long legs.  This made the show a must watch for the guys too.  Malaika had to leave when her pregnancy got obvious.

ITEM HAI BHAI

Malaika had done two music video in her early career.  One was Bally Sagoo's 'Gud nalon ishq mitha' and the other was Shubha Mudgal's 'Pyar ka mausam' with Arbaaz Khan.  The latter found her married to Arbaaz, and the former found her atop a train with Shahrukh singing 'Chaiyya Chaiyya', thanks to Farah Khan.  This song from the Mani Ratnam movie Dil Se got so popular that it is now seen as iconic. The wonderful music by AR Rehman was embellished by the beautiful poetry of Gulzaar 'jinke sar ho ishq ki chaon, paon ke neeche jannat hogi'.  Farah Khan pulled out all stops and imaginatively choreographed the song atop a moving train.  The sensuality of Malaika did the rest in making the song such a hit.

Her next major item dance was in Sanjay Gupta's Kaante.  She pole danced to the soulful number 'Mahi Ve'.  Again a very sexy song. This time round, she had a slight role in the movie too as the love interest of Sunil Shetty.

Post Kaante, she reappeared in Kaal with a title song with Shahrukh, 'Kaal me ham tum karen dhamaal'.  The song sizzled. It could be a consolation for Malaika that even Shahrukh here was an 'item boy'.

However, Malaika was content doing her modelling, TV presentations and an occasional dance number in bollywood.  She wasnt really looking out to play lead roles.  To be very fair to her, she makes her item numbers look like an art form.

CELEBRITY

Malaika is not exactly an actress. She has been more of an item girl so far.  She has agreed to work in the lead as Arjun Rampal's love interest in Sunil Shetty's movie 'EMI'.  Seeing the places Arjun Rampal is going these days, post Don and The Last Lear,  it seems like a good career move.

Malaika is a true celebrity.  She is recognised instantly thanks to her numerous television appearences as host and presenter.  She has even judged a popular dance show Nach Baliye.  She has been seen in Kaun Banega Crorepati as a celebrity contestant and Koffee with Karan.

Her gorgeous looks are unabated by marriage and motherhood.  She is extremely devoted to her husband, Arbaaz Khan and her son Arhan.

GOSSSSSIP

Her name was linked to none other than John Abraham early on.  She refuted that when she declared that Arbaaz was her first and last boyfriend.

Her sister Amrita Arora is also trying to get a foothold in bollywood via Veejaying, modelling and dancing.

They are known as the bindaas sisters who dress as they please.

FILMOGRAPHY

•     Welcome (2007/I) .... Special Appearance (Song "Hot Rasile")
•     Heyy Babyy (2007) .... Special appearance in song
•     "Nach Baliye 2" (2006) (mini) TV mini-series .... Judge
•     "Nach Baliye" (2005) (mini) TV mini-series .... Judge
•     Kaal (2005) .... Special Appearance (Song)
•     Kaante (2002) .... Lisa - Marc's girlfriend
•     Maa Tujhhe Salaam (2002) .... Special Appearance
•     Indian (2001)
•     Bichhoo (2000) .... Kiran (Special Appearance)
•     Dil Se.. (1998) .... Dancer on train
•     Aaja Meri Jaan (1993)