After sizzling in Bollywood song and dance numbers, model-VJ Malaika Arora is now plunging into full time acting with two big banner thrillers.

"I've always loved thrillers," said Arora, who is married to actor Arbaaz Khan. "So it was a great opportunity for me to do these films. They are both big banner films with big name directors and are out and out thrillers, full of action and mystery."

Often called Bollywood original "item girl", referring to her success in dancing in single songs that were mega hits in films, Arora has often postponed her film debut.

The sultry model shot to fame as a video jockey for the music channel MTV where she hosted popular shows like Style Check and Love Line.

Her big Bollywood break came when she danced atop a train with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the song "Chaiya, chaiya" in "Dil Se".

The sequence became one of Hindi cinema's biggest hits ever, a celluloid magic moment. Arora became the darling of directors wanting an item song in their films.

"I was very happy doing one song routines," Arora, here to host a wedding exhibition, and resplendent in a silver embroidered sari, tells in an interview.

"But now I want more. And thrillers are just the sort of films that I want to act in. You know, I've always wanted to play the role of Lara Croft, for instance. Or a Charlie's Angel, these are sort of roles that I want to do.

"And I'm a great sucker for horror and mystery, I'm always watching horror and mystery shows, so thrillers fit the sort of films I want to do perfectly."

Her sister, Amrita, a Bollywood actress, has also been coaxing her to start acting. "She's always telling me that I should act and not just do one song - all her pushing me has worked."

Arora also recently quit MTV after eight years and would soon be seen on family channel Sahara Manoranjan, where she would be anchoring her niche show.

"The show will be about me interacting with various personalities and stars. It'll be a fun show, all about style, trends and glamour."