Sasheh Agha, Mallika Sherawat, Sunny Leone: Do bold debuts help pretty heroines make it big in Bollywood?

We take a look at would-be actors who thought it necessary to open their Bollywood innings with uber-risqué and sensuous roles

Sasheh Agha, the daughter of Salma Agha of Nikaah fame will soon make her acting debut in the slick thriller Aurangzeb alongside the Ishaqzaade dude Arjun Kapoor. And from what we saw in the teasers of the film, pretty young Sasheh has done some incredibly hot make-out scenes and bare-dare sequences. The debutant, who bears the legacy of the Agha name, also has an alleged MMS to her credit, and in the film she will be wearing some super sexy teeny-weeny bikinis and show off her curves like a teenaged seductress!

With every newbie heroine going ahead and doing risqué scenes, we have to wonder if such roles do indeed help actors make it big in Bollywood. And is exposing plenty of skin onscreen a better option than showing off acting talent? Let’s take a look at other actors who have managed after such a bold start….

The Dirty Picture, Ragini MMS, Hate Story, Murder – Are these films soft porn?

Erotic, steamy, titillating, sleazy or exploitative, some Bollywood productions have come under the morality scanner time and again for their controversial content. Take a look at this list of movies that many believe border on blue-tinted content and tell us: Should they be banned?
“Indians love sex. But don’t tell them that they love it. It is equivalent to serving alcohol mixed in a glass of soft drink. So do the trick and we Indians will accept sex readily even if the form is changed,” said Mahesh Bhatt on a talk show, contorting his face with great passion while debating whether Indians are ready to accept sex in cinema.

Recently the Supreme Court issued notices to various ministries of the central government on a PIL seeking modification of Internet laws to make watching pornography a non-bailable offence in the wake of increasing sexual assaults on women. But the question we are asking is, will sleazy, titillating Hindi films also be brought under the porn umbrella?

The slippery slope that separates erotica from porn must be viewed subjectively. But in an industry where an item song studded with cleavage heaving and pelvic thrusting is used as a selling point, and love-making scenes – even if shot ‘aesthetically’ – are looked down upon as being improper and vulgar, the definitions of porn, soft porn and erotica change radically. So let’s take a look at those films that blurred the dividing line and ruffled more than a few sensitive feathers. Were these productions too hot to handle for our aam janta? You tell us!

Mallika Sherawat to feature in The Bachelorette India – Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika on Life Ok

Actor Mallika Sherawat joins the likes of Rakhi Sawant and Ratan Rajput to find her Mr Right through a TV reality show. We wonder if this sexy babe will get lucky!

Rahul Mahajan, Rakhi Sawant and Ratan Rajput were seen hunting for their respective partners on the reality show Swayamvar. Of the three, Rahul was the lucky one to find his soulmate Dimpy on the show and they even tied the knot on the show. Now, Mallika Sherawat, 36, will feature in The Bachelorette India – Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika, which will air on Life OK. It is based on US TV show The Bachelor.

Mallika is quite clear about the kind of guy she wants to date. “I’m looking for someone who is self-made, well educated, grounded and above all someone who can be a friend and not just a lover,” Mallika said in a statement. “I prefer men who take risks in life, and especially the ones who are not afraid to speak their mind. I’m hoping that through The Bachelorette India, I find what I’m truly looking for – a friend and a soulmate,” added the actor known for films like Murder and Pyaar Ke Side Effects.

Ajit Thakur, general manager, Life OK, is proud of the association with a global format and said it has many successful seasons in about 25 countries. “The show gives us a unique opportunity to partner Mallika in her quest to find true love. We are confident that the series will strengthen Life OK’s programming and set another benchmark in quality entertainment,” he added.

The Bachelorette India – Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika is expected to go on air in August 2013.