Flashing curves and gyrating is in for a competition. Now its time for men to burn the screen with their glistening six-packs.

With Bollywood on an experimental mood and escalating star power of actors, the Indian film industry is seeing a shift as far as item numbers are concerned with leading men shaking a leg as item boys.

While Shahrukh has emerged as the king of item songs, with films like 'Kaal' and Krazzy 4, Hrithik has recently burned the dance floor with his Michael Jackson look-alike dancing steps in Krazzy 4. Even Salman has put on his dancing shoes in 'Hello'.

"I think it is a very healthy trend. A lot of newer things are being attempted now a days. We always had item girls then why not item boys?" asks film analyst.

Director Jaideep Sen of Krazzy 4, who made the two leading actors dance in his film, says, "It helped the film in a big way. It proved to be the biggest attraction for the audience. It acted like giving icing on the cake."

Even as the leading actors are ruling the roost, the other actors are also joining the item number bandwagon.

While Tusshar Kapoor has already done a sizzling number in Rohit Shettys 'Sunday', Abhishek Bachchan will be seen strutting his stuff in a rocking track in Apoorva Lakhia's film 'Mission Istanbul'.

Also Irfan Khan, who is not the best of dancers, will feature in a song in 'Teesri Manzil 302'.

"Item songs help the actors to gain popularity. They add to their performance. It also helps them in performing in stage shows," says Adarsh. Disagrees Jaideep.

"I don't think we can call it a trend yet. It is one of an occurance, while actors because of personal reasons agrees to do a number.

For example, in Krazzy 4 it was due to personal attachment that Hrithik and Shahrukh agreed to do the dance number. There is no professional reasons attacted in it," he reasons.

Actor Arshad warsi, who stars in Krazzy 4, says, "Item numbers are a way of providing the audience with some extra incentives to watch the film.

Although it helps the film in a way, I don't think it helps the actor in any way, apart from the fact that may be now we have more work to do." So, can the new item boys compete with the item girls? Arshad feels it will be difficult to match up to their oomph factor.

"It will be a little difficult for the guys to match up to the oomph factor of these item girls," he says.