Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 4, 2015)

Surveen Chawla was a part of Hate Story 2, but she does not feature in third part of the franchise. Ask her why and she says, “Hate Story 3 from what I know is an erotic thriller and I would never be a part of erotica.” But didn’t Hate Story 2 have her doing some steamy lovemaking and smooching scenes? “Hate Story 2 was a revenge thriller. Moreover, lovemaking scenes and kissing are just another part of emoting on screen, but erotica is with the intention of titillating, which I don’t want to do,” she reasons. Surveen, however, has no issues doing item numbers in films. She has done the Tuti Bole Wedding Di from Welcome Back. However, she prefers to call them special songs and not item numbers! “Item songs have an element of sensuality but the songs that I have done so far, be it the Dhoka number in Himmatwala or Tuti Bole Wedding Di... don’t come in that category. In the Dhoka Dhoka song, there were many actresses and each of us represented our region, and Tuti Bole... is a wedding song.”

Nevertheless, we ask her which are her favourite item numbers and she puts Madhuri Dixit’s Humko Aajkal Hai.. from Sailaab right on top. “Nobody could have done that song better than her. She has beautifully brought out sensuality. Such grace and elegance. It’s my number one item song.” Katrina Kaif’s Sheila Ki Jawaani (Tees Maar Khan) ranks second. “Katrina sizzles in that song and the way it has been shot is amazing,” says Surveen whose third favourite is Deepika Padukone’s Lovely from Happy New Year. “The way it has been choreographed, there’s no way people will not copy Deepika’s steps,” she says.