The fraction of the year for setting up of high end weddings, extravaganzas is yet another season in the city of Udaipur (and other wedding depots around) apart from the naturally gifted summer, winter, monsoon, autumn and spring seasons.

It is the time of the year when the mighty in the corporate, political or entertainment world come down to the City of Lakes, which, over the years has become a destination par excellence to celebrate all sorts of occasions, including birthdays, tying the knot, corporate achievements, et al.

The lavish expenditure of the who’s who on their personal extravaganzas (read ‘bash’) comprise of Marble fitted stages, Imported (solely for the occasion) flowers, Continental and Mediterranean Event Managers, Bentleys and Rolls Royce donning the role of Airport Pick up vehicles, charter flights to bring down the esteemed guests, the list can go on and on.

The real reel

The role of an item girl presenting an item number in the Bollywood style Silver screen shows has seen charismatic increase in value.

Well, I do not remember if the in-room dance of Helen (‘Yeh Mera Dil’) in the original, Amitabh starrer ‘Don’ was the cause for the movie goers to re-visit the screening. But, the ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’ from Salman starrer ‘Dabangg’ was arguably the reason for multiple visits to the screening.

An actress or heroine of yesteryears left this job to the Helens and Kalpana Iyers in those times and even recently, post the 90’s the Maduris and Karishmas would also be slightly hesitant to appear as the item girl in any of their films; of course sleazy songs, which are required to ‘justify the role’, are excluded from this discussion.

Then how come, the much adored, respected and looked upon actresses (for their acting skills, on screen presence OR simply their beauty quotient) happen to now become the dancing divas in personal burlesques of the money makers of the corporate world.

Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif were a part of the lavish expenses in para 2 of this piece. Both had arrived to present item numbers (call them show stoppers, if you like to make it sound more diplomatic) in the presence of the distinguished guests, which included the Steel baron, Lakshmi Mittal.

I had read a piece where the Baazigar, Shahrukh had said that they were a part of show business and giving shows was their profession. This was said when a reporter asked him, as to why a star of his stature is a part of such events and dances in personal parties.

Disagree completely – Shahrukh, Priyanka, Saif, Salman Khan, Katrina and others in their league are in a different orbit than Shakira, Akon, Madonna, etc. Shakira earns her stature and livelihood through dancing and singing on stage whereas the former are a persona in themselves and looked upon by a nation as their role models, in which ever role they play on the silver screen – Shakira cannot do a multi-personality 3 hour jig the way Priyanka did in ‘What’s My Rashi’. Period.

Having said all this, is money or corporate will or political power the only reasons that these On-Screen Divas turn into One Evening Item Girls? I am sure they do not need such exposure to leave a positive impression of their capabilities.

Note: There is no intention of degrading the item girl – it is a professional requirement and best done by those who live on it.