'Nothing is impossible to achieve' - Madhuri Dixit

Here we have Madhuri Dixit, speaking about her journey in the show..

How is Madhuri different from the initial days of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and today?
Today I am more confident in the show as I know the contestants very well and can gauge  their weaknesses and strengths. I am more attached to the show, and feel bad and shocked at every unexpected elimination. But it's been a very nice journey so far and it is going to be a tough job to judge from now on.

Do you think the dance element in a performance should include a lot of lifts and dips?
When you are doing styles like Jive and Samba, which are the Latin American dance styles, the gymnastics elements are meant to be there because that is the style of dance. And in those styles there is a Ballet element which demands aerobics also. But at the same time we have also brought in Indian Folk as well.

What do you foresee in a dancer?
The foremost is the personality he brings on, along with the movements he masters and the amount of confidence he has. Simultaneously expressions too are very important because one can dance with only the face. So unless and until you dance with your face, the interest level does not get retained.

Your favourite performance till date?
There have been a lot of beautiful performances, but one performance that's still afresh in my mind is the Lavani performance by Krushna. I can tell you that he had performed with complete sincerity, without making it feel like a jest. He danced like how a girl dances.   

A thought that you discovered in this journey of Jhalak?
Nothing is impossible for anyone to achieve. When you put your mind to it, anything is possible and I always trusted that nobody is a non dancer and everybody has the rhythm and the sense of dance in them. But the inhibitions come as we grow up.

Have you as a judge ever got bothered that a non dancer is dancing?
No, because I know how hard they work every day to make their performance better.  I understand that very well as I too would have to put in a lot of hard work to learn any other form of dance, after being a Kathak dancer.  I cannot be impatient with them, in fact I can guide them.  

In the press conference you had said that you actually went to LA to see Dancing with the Stars, the real version, to get convinced for the show. Are you happy with Jhalak till date?
I am absolutely happy with the show and I think the contestants are very good this year where some of them grew and some of them improved in their goodness of talent.

How are the differences of opinion among the judges sorted out?
I agree that each of us has differences of opinions, but it doesn't mean the discussion turns bad. Opinions are based on what we feel and according to that we give them the marks as well.

Has there been any elimination that you felt was unjust?
Frankly speaking, I feel all eliminations were unjust but at the same time we know that it is a competition and somebody has to get eliminated at the end of the day. Even if we feel sad about it, it is the format and you cannot cross that. 

Would you like to be part of the next season?
Nothing is decided as of now..

Reporter and Author: Saranya Valsarajan