/> The nation and its favourite tv channel gawked when Mallika Sherawat staged a walk-out in the middle of her performance on New Year's eve at the Mariott in Mumbai.

The events organizer Ali Morani who got Mallika the lucrative deal feigns ignorance at what transpired in the glam-studded night.

Says Morani, "Yes, I got Mallika the deal. But beyond that I really don't know what happened."

However a source close to Mallika has the entire story to tell. "It was a clear breach of contract, and not on Mallika's part. According to the contract only ten seconds of her performance on stage that evening were meant to be televised.

This is to say, Mallika was clearly given to understand that the brief 10-second footage would be used for news clippings, etc. When she realized that going against the contract, the whole show was being telecast, she simply walked out."

What about the the feee paid to her? Does Mallika have to refund the amount? "Not at all! It was her hosts who breached the contact. Not Mallika. Why should she return the money?" reasons the source.