It's snowing in China and the temperature is down to 10 degrees. The telephone doesn't connect, nor does the internet. In the middle of nowhere, Mallika Sherawat, freezing in her costume, films Daniel Lee's Lost Tomb. She's been there since three weeks and has another three weeks to go, and despite the bitter cold, is creatively charged.

“It's a $50 million international production based on a Chinese bestseller with a great cast, amazing special effects and awe-inspiring action. They came to me a few months ago and I couldn't say 'no' to the thrill of playing a sorceress. I just didn't know I would freeze though the Chinese have been most sympathetic. There's a lot of curiosity about Bollywood in China. I'm constantly being asked if besides naach gaana we try Kung Fu in our films too,“ she laughs delightedly, speaking to Mirror from China.

Mallika remembers growing up on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, listening wide-eyed to stories about Raavan and Surpanaka. “Our stories came from our epics and mythology, not from comic books. I've never played a role like this before. It's a decent part with a good amount of screen time. This tomb is the last obstacle for the conquerors and this angry sorceress doesn't make it easy for them. She flies off into the air, tries to thwart them with Kung Fu and Tai Konda mixed in with yoga, throws lots of rocks in their path,“ she informs.

Mallika admits to being a big fan of the Hong Kong-based writer, director and art-director, having loved his 2008 war drama, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon with Andy Lau, Vanness Vu and Andy On, his 2010 Kung Fu thriller set during the Ming Dynasty 14 Blades and his most recent Dragon Blade, an action-packed historical featuring Jackie Chan. “In fact, it was Jackie who recommended my name to Lee,“ she says.

The actress made an appearance in Chan's 2005 film, The Myth which marked her debut on the global stage. The two have remained good friends since and her fans still remember her making heads turn on the Cannes red carpet as she turned up in a glitzy ghagra-choli with a plunging neckline. Since then she's been a favourite on the French Riviera, whether it was with a live snake for an accessory or a $2 million necklace. She admits she'd love to go to Cannes dressed up as a sorceress next May but for now this role is turning out to be really taxing physically. “I'm doing all the action myself but since my body is used to yoga, and Kung Fu demands different movements, it's difficult, doubly so because of the cold. I've never done action like this before, nor have I worn this kind of costumes or make-up. This sorceress is human, yet there is an animalistic quality to her and she will strike an emotional chord with the audience too,“ she admits.

Another challenge is that some of her dialogue is in Sanskrit, so she's going over her lines with a Chinese Buddhist language coach between shots to ensure that she gets her pronunciation right.

Quiz her on Hindi films and she points out that while there are a lot of glam roles coming her way, she's more interested in working with young, upcoming directors who will take her out of her comfort zone and help her re-invent herself as an actress. Meanwhile she's in talks for another international film and expects to lock the deal in a month or two.