Press Trust of India Posted online: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 1405 hours IST
Kuala Lumpur, September 14: Expressing hope that The Myth would help kickstart her international acting career, Bollywood siren Mallika Sherawat today said she was grateful to superstar Jackie Chan and director Stanley Tong for giving her a chance to star in the film.
Addressing a press conference here along with co-star Jackie Chan, Sherawat said her experience of starring in the film had been a ‘rewarding’ one.
"I did not imagine that I would get a chance to star in a big movie like The Myth," the actress said.
Sherawat had previously hogged headlines for her bold and unconventional roles in films like Murder and Khwahish.
"Although I have never done an action film and was so exhausted to the point of tears at times, I am proud to be a part of this challenging movie," she said.
Sherawat, dressed in a pink blouse with plunging neckline and trousers, later told Star newspaper that co-star Jackie was a ‘rogue’.
Jackie had apparently promised Sherawat he would close his eyes during a scene in which her blouse comes off, leaving her topless on the set.
"I think Jackie changed his mind and kept his eyes open. And he told me, 'I am not gay, why should I close my eyes.' He is a rogue," the paper quoted the actress as saying.
According to Sherawat, Chan also deliberately fumbled during the shoot.
"Surprisingly, it involved a lot of takes. I think he deliberately did it. He would deliberately do something wrong, so that he had to do a retake," the actress said. "I am sure. Typical (of male actors)."
However, crediting her co-star with making her feel comfortable on the set during the scene, Sherawat said Chan made sure it was a closed set so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Chan, 51, told reporters at the press conference that despite not watching any of Sherawat's films, he was confident she would be the perfect choice for The Myth.
The movie is already making waves here prior to its release. Large hoardings of Chan and Sherawat can be seen at multiplexes while photographs of the actress in a chiffon spaggetti-strapped outfit are splashed on the front pages of local newspapers.
The Myth is an action movie which fuses modern times with the Qin warrior epic. Jackie Chan plays a double role of a warrior and an archaeologist while Sherawat plays a character named Samantha.
