When Mallika Sherawat was signed on to do an item number in the Kannada film Preethi Eke Bhoomi Melidhe, the makers clearly had no idea about the actress's starry tantrums.

Apparently, there was trouble on the sets on the fourth day of the shooting when Mallika refused to work. For those who don't know, Mallika is currently in Bangalore to do an item number in the said film.

Before she started the shoot, the actress had signed an agreement which stated that no media-person or photographer would be allowed on the sets.

The problem started when the producer organised Mallika's dance number on the busy roads of Bangalore. Curious onlookers were able to shoot Mallika's dance on their mobile phones despite the presence of bodyguards. Some press photographers also turned up during the shooting. 

The publication of the stills in newspapers reportedly angered Mallika.

Meanwhile, more media photographers gatecrashed the shooting spot, much to Mallika's annoyance. Apparently, she walked out of the shoot and waited in her makeup van for a while, returning only when she was convinced that the photographers had left.

"The song is crucial for the film, and with Mallika's presence in the song, it would be nothing but a chartbuster," says Ashwini Ram Prasad, whose earlier film Jogi was a huge hit.

But director Prem, who is being launched as the hero in Preethi, was appreciative of Mallika's co-operation during the filming. 

Text: R G Vijayasarathy