Actor Dino Morea, who did a disappearing act from the episode of ZEE TV's 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu' that will be aired tonight (Sunday), says he will not appear on any show if he is not paid for it.

According to the show's producer-director Gajendra Singh, "Dino was out of the country doing some shows."

But the actor was very much in town and told IANS: "Yeah I was called on the show. I didn't attend for two reasons. One, I was rehearsing for my show on Saturday. Two, I don't want to come on any show without being paid.

"I'd be happy to give the money to charity. But since these music contests are all commercial ventures why do they expect us to be on them for free?"

Dino, incidentally, had been on Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 show as part of the 'Holiday' package.

He appeared on it with Pooja Bhatt and Anjoli Nair. Apparently he couldn't say no to Pooja.

In Dino's absence the other two protagonists of 'Tom Dick & Harry', Jimmy Shergill and Anuj Sawhney had a chance to monopolise the show.

"Dino's presence was sorely missed. He strikes a note of empathy with the contestants. He has a very warm personality," said Singh.

Incidentally, Dino isn't the first contestant to not turn up for the music contest. Mallika Sherawat did a similar vanishing trick on 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' too and was quickly replaced by director Subhash Ghai.

But Dino's absence was not compensated. "Just proves I am irreplaceable," he Dino.

Next week 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu' plans to invite the 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005' winner Debojit Saha. "We'll officially release his debut album on the show, and he'll sing a couple of tracks," said Singh.