Malaika: My heart breaks every time I have to say No

The fabulous Malaika Arora Khan back on television once more. Rajul Hegde/Rediff.com reports.

This is my third stint (as a judge) on India’s Got Talent. In my first season I was trying to figure things out. In the second season, I was in awe. Now I am completely spellbound by what I see.

"The real challenge in every fresh outing is to push the envelope and do something different. We have loads of that this time around," she says proudly.

The new season has international talent, "techno stuff such as 3D mapping and underwater dancing", she says. 

As before, she promises there will be great interaction between the judges and the participants.

"We also have close-up magic as you must have seen in the promos. One guy tries to do a voodoo on me. That had me spooked," she shudders.

Malaika is excited that one of the contestants, Pooja, looks quite like her. "She was my doppelganger. My fellow judges (Karan Johar and Kirron Kher) were shocked and got confused between us.

"We are quite similar. She told me that she watches all my dances and mannerisms intently. That’s a huge compliment."

Talking about the judging on the show, Malaika says, "We need to find that X factor which completely wows us."

She also admits that she finds it difficult to reject a contestant. "My heart breaks every time I have to say No. But there is a way to say that because everybody comes with a dream."

She is all praise for comedian Bharti Singh, who is co-hosting the show with telly actor Nakul Mehta (last seen in Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha). While this is Nakul's first time on the show, Bharti has hosted previous season with VJs Mantra and Andy.

"They (Nakul and Bharti) both do a great job. Bharti is among the most super talented persons around. Her comic timing is impeccable. She can carry off anything," says Malaika.

She says her teenage son, Arhaan, is obsessed with the show.

"Last time he insisted I take him on the set as he was curious about what was happening. Kids keep on asking me questions about the show," she says

Talking about her last filmi outing, she would have liked Dolly Ki Doli to be more of a box-office success. Yet, she is happy that "people liked and appreciated the film. You feel good that you have not made a stupid and disastrous film."

She may consider a fiction show next. "I am quite a television buff. I watch only Indian reality shows and international fiction shows like Dexter, 24, Game of Thrones. I am obsessed by those shows. So I would love to be part of it," she smiles.