Mallika Sherawat says directors & actors only cast their girlfriends in sequels, claims it's why she lost out on Welcome Back

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif starrer ensemble comedy Welcome has achieved a cult status in Bollywood and each of its characters if fondly remembered. The film got a sequel in 2015 but many of the actors from the original weren’t a part of this Anees Bazmee project which starred John Abraham and Shruti Hassan in the lead.

Actress Mallika Sherawat was asked why she didn’t sign up for the sequel Welcome Back after the blockbuster original of which she was a part along with Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar. She pinned the blame of losing out on the project on the makers and said that when sequels of successful films are made, actors and filmmakers insert their girlfriends in the cast.

She told Pinkvilla, “Welcome ka sequel banega toh director apni girlfriend ko hi dalega na usmein. Welcome 2 bana toh usmein apni girlfriend ko daal diya batao, ab main kya karun? (If a sequel of Welcome is made, then the director will only cast his girlfriend. When Welcome 2 was made, he cast his girlfriend in the film. What do I do now?)” 

Mallika further said she’s at a loss in such situations as she’s never dated any actor or filmmaker in Bollywood and also claimed that it was because of this reason lost out on Welcome Back. “When they make a sequel they cast their girlfriend, the hero casts his girlfriend, what do I do then? I don’t have any boyfriend in Bollywood, I have never been with any actor, director or producer. With me like this is my work, if you think I am worthy of your project I would love to be a part of it. But if a director, or a producer or an actor - if they want to cast their girlfriends then it's their choice,” she was quoted saying by the portal.

Mallika is now focused on her career on OTT and her latest outing on digital is the MX Player series Nakaab. The actress has seen her fair share of ups and downs in her career and has returned to acting only recently after a break.