The traditional lavni number has not gone down well with many people. Some people are questioning why a National Award-winning actress would stoop down to the level of doing this song which won't do anything much for her career.

Says a producer, on condition of anonymity, "She is an actress who's a brilliant performer and has made a mark for herself as an actress of substance especially post The Dirty Picture and Kahaani. Why is she doing what Katrina and Mallika are doing? It doesn't befit her stature.

" Moreover, those who traditionally do item numbers are far slimmer and fitter than Vidya is. While she put on weight for The Dirty Picture to essay the role of Silk , she doesn't seem to have shed it for her Marathi song.

Vidya recently told us, "I was at my fattest best in The Dirty Picture and I was called the most desirable." She strongly believes that desirability comes from within and not by body type.

But some of her fans seem to think otherwise. Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra is said to be miffed that people are calling Mala Jau De an 'item number'.

In a recent interview, he even stated that Vidya expressed a desire to do this song. This, in turn, has fuelled a buzz that the actress was repaying a favour to him considering the Munnabhai series.

The irony in this entire situation is that Vidya played the role of Silk, an item girl, with finesse in The Dirty Picture and that is what got her recognition and rewards — even at the BO (less)