NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Are you a dancer, singer or a choreographer?
I would proudly state that I am first and foremost a dancer and only then a choreographer. I have been trained in western classical ballet, Salsa as well as Flamenco. It was Anand Sharma from Canada who trained me in Flamenco, a bit of Tap ballet and Flamenco and western classic ballet. I have performed a lot of shows by collaborating with Kathak dancers and do amalgamation with Keka Sinha too. I have been practicing for more than ten years as a dancer. I had made my debut as a dancer with Hrithik Roshan in Koyi Mil Gaya way back and then followed it up with a number with Aftab Shivdasani in Muskaan.
Are you planning in terms of coming up with an album as a singer?
I like to sing besides dancing. Right now I am toying with the idea of coming up with an International jazz album of my own as a singer. It would be my own product. My husband Nash is a disciple of Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia. Nash is a wizard at playing bansuri. I help Nash with his work too. We encourage and support each other and would not mind confessing that we are each other’s critics.
How easy is it for a dancer to be a choreographer?
I’d say that a dancer need not be exceptional to be a choreographer. Not every dancer can be a choreographer and vice versa also not every choreographer can be a dancer. You can be a good choreographer or a dancer but for that you should have a vision of your own. What I mean to state is that if your perception is good, you can be a good choreographer even though you do not have any knowledge about the dance form.
“Dancing is my passion but I am not at all confident of my acting prowess and my aim is to continue project my own dance style onto the big screen too.”
Who are your favorite choreographers in films?
Among my favorite choreographers are Farha Khan, Saroj Khan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Ganesh Hegde, Ganesh Acharya etc. My aim is to continue to project my own dance style on the big screen too in the near future.
Is it true that you have to be in top form and shape if you want to pursue a career as a dancer?
It is not important to be slim or be in top form physique wise if you do not want to pursue a career as an actress but if you want to be in front of the camera as a dancer, you have no other alternative but to be in perfect shape.
Do you have any inclination to take up acting too?
I frankly feel that I do not have the talent to be an actor. Dancing is my passion but I am not at all confident of my acting prowess, because I do not have any desire at all to act.
Who are your favorite dancers among actors?
I like Madhuri Dixit for her sensual beauty, exquisite grace and elegance, Helen for her amazing footwork without many cuts, Meenakshi Seshadri, Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Vyjayanthimala etc I also like Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika a lot. I like the Senorita dance number picturised for Zindagi Na Mile Dobara on Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar in Spain. No other Flamenco dance has been shot for any Indian film till date.
Who are your favorite directors?
My favorite directors are undoubtedly Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Do you plan to take up assignments on TV too?
There is not much of a scope for a choreographer as far as the TV is concerned unless and until it is a dance reality competition show and I am called upon to be a judge in it.
What is your forte as a dancer?
My forte is western classical ballet dance as well as Flamenco. I am also exceptionally good at Bollywood dancing. I want to grow as a dancer and be better than what I was yesterday and what I am today and scale greater heights.
How open are you to do a raunchy item number for films?
I am confident to carry off a sexy item number even in a skimpy costume as I know I have the required poise to carry it off with a lot of elegance like Helen used to in the good old days. Doing an item number is all about how you set out to present yourself by giving it the right element of sophistication and slickness.
