'I always aimed to be the choreographer's dream' - Salman

Salman has bagged the 'Sunehri Taqdeer Ki Topi' and has emerged as the Nation's Biggest Dancing Star, after winning Zee's Dance India Dance last Saturday.

Here is a chit-chat with the winner on his journey to success..

How does it feel to be called 'Sabse Bada Dancing Star'?
It's amazing and the feeling is simply out of the world. I thank Allah for everything! Remo Sir is the best thing that has happened to me so far…

Which was your best performance according to you?
I think my best performance is yet to come. My performances in Dance India Dance are just a glimpse of what I can do. Coming to my performances, there are many favorites like the rope malkhamb act and Chau Dance.

When you first entered the competition, did you ever think that you would reach so far and finally win the competition?
Right from day one, I had it in my mind that I have the potential to win. I had got a platform where I could showcase my talent, and I thank God for providing me with this opportunity. I aimed to give my best performances in all the rounds and made sure that I better my previous performance every time I took to the stage. This way I lived up to the expectations of all.

What do you want to say about your mentor Remo D' Souza?
As I said earlier, having Remo Sir as mentor is the best thing that has happened to me. I thank Allah for giving me such a good mentor. I have won this competition only because of him. You see me here today with the golden cap, only because of Remo Sir.

Right from the start, you were never the judges' favorite but something else always clicked about you; what do you have to say about this?
When we were selected from the group of top 18 contestants, we were chosen for our performance and not for our stunts. I was awarded 'Khoobsurat Performer' of the week, and the credit there went to my performances. With dance, I added an extra element of spice and that is where stunts came. I can only say that whatever I have done has clicked.

Which was your toughest performance?
Frankly speaking I have been in pain every week; I have got hurt many times, have shed my blood and had spasms all over. There has also been a time when I've even come straight from the hospital and have performed for two episodes. The one performance where I got frightened for a moment was my fire act because I burnt my eyelid. That was very close and I could have lost my eye sight too. All precautions were taken but you never know,  as anything can happen at the last moment.

According to you, who was the most deserving person other than you?
Among the three finalists Alisha, Siddesh Pai and Salman, 'Salman' was the most deserving contestant (laughs). No, really because I have literally slogged, worked hard and have sacrificed a lot for it.

The mantra that Remo Sir passed on to you?
He just advised me to believe in myself, as I have the capability to win. Once he instilled in me the confidence, I was determined to win.

What's next for you?
I believe that God is always there to show us the path. I never knew few months back, that I would come down to Mumbai and achieve all this success.  I am open to all options, and I am confident that I will put in cent percent to whatever I get.

What were you doing before coming to Mumbai?
I am a Mechanical Engineer and was looking forward for my MS (Post Graduation) in UK or Australia. When I got this offer, I held back and wanted to give this a shot (smiles).

What have you learned from the show?
Everything comes with hard work. If you have a will then nobody can stop you from doing what you want to do.

Which is the dance form you are most comfortable in?
This is one aspect that has bothered me a lot. I have never been able to understand what my forte is. Geeta Ma'm used to say that stunt is the one good thing about me. There was someone who said I could carry the Salsa very well. But all I aimed for is to be the choreographer's dream and do all styles of dancing.

Who according to you is the best dancer in Bollywood?
Hrithik Roshan.

Reporter and Author: Ranjini Nair