Item girl talks about her grazed knees while shooting for her chartbuster item song 'Pritam Pyaare'

From growing up watching Bollywood films in Sweden and later starting her own dance school, Maryam Zakaria is enthusiastic about creating her own space in Bollywood.

Previously seen along with Kareena Kapoor in Dil Mera Muft Ka from Agent Vinod, Maryam's latest item number – Pritam Pyaare, featured high on the country's music charts. HitList joins the item girl on a stroll around Bandra to talk about her dance, Bollywood dreams and life away from home.

How does it feel to be an item girl in Bollywood?
Working with Prabhudeva was a great experience. He's totally awesome. The song is high on energy, so it required some stamina.

There is a sequence where I had to roll on the ground under a group of background dancers. The floor was pretty hard and I had no kneecaps on. I was totally bruised all over. Being an item girl is no easy job!



How did your love for Hindi films begin?
My parents loved Hindi films. So, I grew up watching many films of Amitabh Bachchan and other actors. As a child, I enjoyed watching Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. And I absolutely adored Madhuri Dixit. Acting in a Hindi film was always like a dream for me. So, I chased my dream and came here (laughs out loud).

When did dance happen?
I have always been into dancing. Though I have no formal training in dancing, I did learn Kuchipudi and Kathak in Sweden for a couple of years. But I didn't purse them on a higher level, as I wanted to make a career in Bollywood dancing. Later on, I also opened a dance studio there where I taught people the jhatkas and matkas of Bollywood.



Your favourite rain dance?
Tip tip barsa paani! Especially, the scene where Akshay Kumar holds Raveena Tandon's sari and she just rolls into his arms is so hot! I also love Aishwarya Rai's graceful dancing in Taal. The chiffon saris and rains are unbeatable combination.

Single in the city...?
I am an independent girl. I can fight for myself irrespective of the situation. I don't want to be known as an item girl, my dream is to be a proper actress.