The current question about Mallika Sherawat is not "What was she thinking?" or "Who does she think she is?" but rather "Where is she?"

Mallika began her career as Reema Lamba in Jeena Sirf Mere Liye as the second lead, in 2003 she took on the new name Mallika Sherawat for her film Khwahish.

Her 17 kisses with fellow actor Himanshu Malik and her daring clothes became the talk of the town. "When Himanshu is wearing lesser clothes, no one has any problems but when I wear them why target me?" was her reply to her critics. Obviously, she has missed the point that it is perfectly acceptable for a man to wear fewer clothes, as they have less that needs to be covered.

The 2004 film Murder changed her life after it became the biggest hit of the year; surprisingly, even over Shah Rukh Khan's popular Main Hoon Na and Swades. It seemed Mallika had arrived and there was no stopping her.

It appeared to be no coincidence when Aishwarya Rai commented that the clothes heroines were beginning to wear were too revealing. Mallika retorted by saying, "Tell Aishwarya Rai to cover her face and then I will cover my body."

Now, the once outspoken and ever ready to talk about sex related issues 'rising star' has virtually disappeared.

She was last seen in...can anyone remember... it was in Shaadi Se Pehle, a flop at that.

Bizarrely, Mallika has now begun to refuse to give interviews and is doing what she can to keep away from reporters. Perhaps it is a matter of her diva-like doings making headlines all too often.

As a result, she rarely appears in photos and only place she is likely to be seen is on television promoting a soft drink.

This makes one wonder if it means it's all over for Sherawat.

Her mentor Mahesh Bhatt says, "Mallika's place has been taken by Rakhi Sawant. Her audiences have been taken away by Rakhi and my advice to her is to go back and take back that position."

"In her quest to earn respectability in the film industry, she lost the titillation factor which was working in her favour," the filmmaker adds.

Perhaps it is more a matter of the public growing weary of her kind of "titillation" and like a butterfly, she needs time in her cocoon to emerge with a glorious reinvention.