by Subhash K Jha

It seems some people never learn from their past mistakes. Having stepped on toes galore ever since her entry into the Murder zone, Mallika Sherawat has now gone and done the unthinkable.

She has stood up a bunch of bright young eager singers who were supposed to record an episode of Zee's popular Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as part of the promotional package of Subhash Ghai's Shaadi Se Pehle.

Mallika who was supposed to show up for recording the episode on Monday along with co-star Ayesha Takia sent a message late-evening that she was "unwell".

Horrified at being stood up at the last moment, Sa Re Ga Ma producer Gajendra Singh had to look for a last-minute replacement. "We didn't know what hit us. Mallika informed us just half an hour before the show. We were horrified. In a panic we called up her producer Subhash Ghai.

Can you believe it? This man immediately offered to step into his heroine's place. He drove down to our studio within half an hour. And we recorded a terrific episode with Ghai and Ayesha Takia."

Gajendra is all praise for Ayesha. "She was so bubbly and fun-loving, all the contestants adored her."

Considering how upset Subhash Ghai seemed with her behaviour, Mallika has a lot of explaining to do.

Says Gajendra Singh, "I don't know why she behaved this way. But she was a judge on Indian Idol earlier this week.

Maybe she was asked not to come to our show. If so, she could've informed us earlier, and avoided embarrassment for us, herself and Subhash Ghai."