In an interview for CNN news world-renowned journalist Riz Khan recently hail Mallika Sherawat as a youth icon.

It has been said by one source that Mallika Sherawat is by far the biggest star of Bollywood at the moment - if media attention is the barometer of stardom - however, one must consider media attention is not always a good thing, case in point, Salman Khan.

Yes, Mallika is in the media a lot, but how often is it for some stellar performance or selfless act?

Is Mallika Sherawat someone we want as a “youth icon”?

Neha Dhupia once said “only Shah Rukh Khan and sex sell”. Later, she realised that this is not the case, stating, “Yeah, only Shah Rukh Khan sells today. Audiences are bored by sex now. But great politicians have said so many things in the past which is not relevant in today's time. Yet we still read and follow their sayings. If today’s audience is keeping away from sex flicks, is it my mistake?”

Mallika's performances on screen so far have been, if nothing else, attention grabbing. Many see her as just a “sleazy bimbo”; others see her as bold.

23 March of this year, Mallika Sherawat faced protests on a visit to Madhya Pradesh's Indore city to inaugurate a fashion store, where youth burnt the starlet's effigies and tore her posters.

"Mallika is going against the Indian culture by exposing herself in movies. We are protesting her visit to Indore," said a protester.

Other rising young actress’ have begun to imulate Sharawat’s style. Former Miss India-World Sayali Bhagat says she would not mind following in Mallika's footsteps into bold films. Saying she sees nothing wrong with using her sex quotient to attract attention. According to some experts, she could outdo Neha Dhupia and Mallika Sherawat, if she were prepared to give a free reign to her “wild streak” when in front of the camera.

Sambhavna Seth,an item girl in Subhash Ghai's '36 China Town' says she doesn't mind showing skin. "What's big deal in being nude, if the role requires?" she questions with wonder. She's more than willing to 'expose' if the script requires it.

Mallika Sherawat is also known for her diva-esque ways. The latest example of the actress’s unprofessional attitude was by not fulfilling her obligation at the Zee Cine Awards event in Mauritius on 4th March of this year.

Sherawat was expected to host a segment of the Zee Cine Awards ceremony with Karan Johar in Mauritius; however the controversial actress failed to show up cancelling at last moment when the organizers didn't accede to her demands.

According to them a flight on 2nd March was booked for her, but Mallika couldn't take that flight. They gave her an economy class ticket on 3rd March because the flight was full - almost the entire industry had been booked on that flight.

But she was adamant on getting a business class ticket, but none was available.

Said sources in Zee, “Mallika backed out at the last moment, and didn’t go because she wanted business class tickets for herself and her two bodyguards.”

So stuck to her demands, Mallika even refused to go with Shah Rukh Khan in the evening on his chartered flight, but Shewrawat even turned that offer down as well and became unreachable after that.

”We had booked her on a flight on March 2, but she told us that she couldn’t go. We gave her an economy class ticket on March 3 because the flight was full — almost the entire industry had been booked on that flight. She wanted a business class ticket, but none was available.

Finally, we asked her to go with Shah Rukh Khan in the evening, on his chartered flight. Mallika refused that too, and was not reachable afterwards.” But Morani says.

A source close to Mallika, said sarcastically, “It was not only her bodyguards she wanted. Mallika asked for her Pekinese pup, yoga instructor, pedicurist, manicurist, cook, masseur and 10 relatives from Rohtak to accompany her to Mauritius — all to be flown on a private, chartered plane! The organisers agreed to everything, except her pedicurist, so she didn’t go!”

So, again the question must be asked, is Mallika Sharawat someone we really want the youth to emulate and take on as an icon?