Ashish: Being happy is more important than making money

Ashish Chowdhry stint on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded was a short yet eventful one. Though he was self-confessedly "one of the weakest dancers" on the show, the Dhamal actor showed signs of improving since last two years. After being eliminated due to an unfortunate harness mishap, the actor opens up about his experience on the show...

How was the JDJ journey?

I was very nervous when Jhalak started. I did the show because Karan (Karan Johar) asked me to do it and because I was comfortable with the channel. I never I would be on a dance reality show; the thought was petrifying. Losing the fear of dancing has been a great high. I will also miss the friends I made on JDJ.

What was the incident with harness?

We were provided with a manual harness on the show. Around four-five people were pulling the harness on which I was hanging. One or two guys slipped and fell as soon as I was up in the air. I came down abruptly but there was no injury. All my timings went wrong, they lifted me at the wrong time and at the end, they had lost control completely. It was an aerial act that got completely messed up. In my second performance, my choreographer got injured and my act was left incomplete. After the mess, I knew I would be eliminated but I went ahead and finished the act. If I had spoken up on the stage or complained about it to the judges or channel, I would have looked like a sore loser. I don't believe in complaining, I believe what is in your destiny, will happen for sure. I did not even complain about the harness people because they were doing their job and I don't want them get fired by their bosses. The only reason I am talking about it right now is that my fans and those who have voted for me have right to know what exactly happened. They should know that I tried my best.

Do you think the judgment was a fair one?

It's a game with rules which can't be broken. I have to live by the rules in such a competition. I wish the harness problem had not occurred as it would have given me a chance to stay alive in JDJ. According to the format of the show, I should not have got a second chance after my choreographer got injured. There was no way, I would be shown leniency for a harness problem

What has the show taught you?

the show taught me to overcome my bigger fear i.e. dancing. It taught me to get on stage and dance with my heart without panicking in my head. It has helped me overcome the psychological barrier. Now, I can confidently step on a stage and shake a leg

Do you think you are a better dance post JDJ?

Anybody who participates in the show for even a week becomes better dancer than they were in any point in their lives. It is a platform that liberates you from your fears.

What would you say about the judges?

A lot of people said that the judges had a problem with me and gave me low scores except Karan. Ganesh is tough judge because he wants everyone to learn. When I finished the show and was leaving, he came to me and said I was doing better. I appreciated that as I know that he is a straight-forward guy and does not lie. When the harness problem happened, Lauren (Gottlieb) angrily went to the harness guys along with a translator and fired the hell out of them. She called me twice to say that she was feeling bad about my elimination. Shahid (Kapoor) was also appreciative about me. He used to compliment me as much as Karan. And Karan is the best judge the country can have in any show. I don't think there's anyone more kind-hearted or better than him to judge a show. He knows how to encourage people.

What will you miss most about JDJ?

I will miss my choreographer Falon. Vrushali and she worked really hard on me. It's natural to get attached to the choreographers as we shot for one day and remaining six days were spent in practising, dancing, laughing, crying, getting injured, and starting all over again. I will my rehearsal days. I have told Falon that I will go out with her dancing. Normally, these things are not considered as work, it is another excitement altogether.

What is your next move?

I telll this to everyone. I have done this just because I was excited about doing something different. But truly fiction is what I know best and do best. I am done with reality for a while. I want to go back to fiction and acting, which I know best.

Taking part in these reality shows should be taken as an experience !! The matter of winning or loosing is your LUCK ! The participants must be matured enough and take your 'mishaps' sportingly as Ashish did. ! That is the spirit, keep it up ! Frankly , I hardly watch any of these shows as most of the time the participants are 'immature' and shed 'buckets and buckets of tears ' ! God save me these dramatics. I prefer participants like A.C.