Mallika Sherawat set to swallow evil men in 'Hissss'

If there is any actress strapping and sensuous enough to swallow a whole man it is Mallika Sherawat, and the 'serial kisser seductress' turned 'serial hisser Naagin' is set to do just that in Hollywood director Jennifer Lynch's upcoming film 'Hissss.' Photo Credit: Split Image Pictures

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vijainder.k.thakur@sawfnews.com

October 06, 2008, (Sawf News) - If there is any actress strapping and sensuous enough to swallow a whole man it is Mallika Sherawat, and the 'serial kisser seductress' turned 'serial hisser Naagin' is set to do just that in Hollywood director Jennifer Lynch's upcoming film Hissss.

The subject of a vengeful Naagin has been handled in Indian films before but never with the combination of SFX and skills of a master technician like Robert Kurtzman.

Sawf News asked Jennifer how much was she relying on special effects in her interpretation of the myth?

"Exploring Naagin with SFX was the next logical step, though not mine alone. Producer Govind Menon brought the idea to me with SFX included. This appealed to me immediately as I feel the myth of Naagin is an organic and authentic femme fatale legend... Worthy of a sensual and terrifying touch. Rob Kurtzman has brought this concept to life."

Hissss makes a radical and intriguing departure from past Naagin films by showing Mallika turn into a giant hooded cobra instead of a normal sized cobra. The size of the cobra matches that of the snake woman making the transformation physically more realistic.

Though her take conforms more to the laws of physics we wondered if Jennifer perceived a risk in making the departure from the myth.

"An enormous cobra was the only way to go for me...not to escape the previous films' set up, but because I wanted a female creature large enough to swallow a man whole. As to whether or not this size change is a risk... I guess I hope it is...risks cause me to evolve, safety is a fast track to death."

India has a lot of other myths and legends that are waiting to be exploited using modern day SFX. Have you explored any of them?

"I have not yet researched any other Indian myths, as I am solely focused now on this one...but I am held mystically captive by India and all of its' tales...I hope to work here for many years to come."

We have to ask you this. Does Mallika do an item number before turning into a cobra?

"Mallika does not sing her way into cobra form, but in my filmmaker heart, her transformation has a definite 'sound'.

"Irrfan Khan, Divya Dutta, Jeff Doucette, Raman Trikha, Mallika and all others are bringing this myth to light and life in a way I hope audiences will embrace as I am."