If Mallika Sherawat is better known as a Mahesh Bhatt protégé after "Murder", director Govind Menon has no complaints about this.

"Let's not forget that `Mudrer' was the biggest success last year. It is only fair if Mallika has come to be associated with the Bhatts. If anything, my film will definitely stand to benefit from the success of her last release," says the director, who is readying for his third release "Bachke Rehna Re Baba" with Mallika after "Khwaish" and the not-so-happening "Kis Kiski Kismat".

Menon is proud of the fact that his one-time discovery is going places. Mallika has been specially invited to the Cannes film festival to promote her international project with Jackie Chan, "The Myth".

"I am happy for her that she is being introduced in a big way at the Cannes film festival," he says.

So has the equation between the two changed with Mallika becoming a more sought after name?

"Equations do keep changing in the industry with success or failure, but some things never change. The Mallika I know today is the same person I used to relate to," he says.