Kushal Punjabi is currently flaunting his dance talent in Colors dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhlaa Jaa Season 7. Well, by the day, he is giving performances on which women just cannot stop drooling.
In this exclusive chat with TellyBuzz, Kushal speaks about his experience at Jhalak, his toughest competitor and much more. Read on!
During the race of wild card entry, you stood out and were chosen as the wild card entrant. Is being a dancer beneficial to you?
I was never a professional dancer. I took dance lessons for about a year & a half and did a few small shows and that was at the age of 19. It's been quite a few years since I danced but I do love dancing a lot and don't miss an opportunity to shake a leg. But I am not a technically trained or certified professional dancer.
Who do you think is your toughest competitor on Jhalak Dikhhlaa Jaa Season 7?
This has been the highest level of dance people have seen on the Jhalak Dikhhlaa Jaa stage hence the competition is obviously extremely stiff and tough. There are some absolute professional dancers in the competition and so it gets very tough. My competition as of now is with my own body because of my previous injury but I'm taking this up as a challenge.
Coming in as a wild card entry, do you think it is a drawback for you?
Yes it is. I came in the seventh week which means that the older contestants have had six weeks of performances and experience and have also had one whole month of training before they started. They have grown in the show and brought it to a certain level which now I have to stand up to and match in a very short period of time. Also they already have their fan base set and votes coming in so I have to fight this one out at every level.
The advantage is that I get a tough challenge ahead of me which will only push me harder.
Share any incident spent on Jhalak that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Every rehearsal, every performance, every score & every comment by the judges, I will cherish but there is one moment which will always be in my heart is when the little girls from my NGO came on the Jhalak stage and danced with Madhuri Dixit Nene, Karan Johar andRemo Dsouza. It made me genuinely happy to see the kids smiling and enjoying.
What do you have to say about these extremely talented judges?
They are superstars in their own right and their comments have the whole nation listening and learning. They're scoring and style of feedback has become a sort of a trend on Indian television. When Remo says "that's how u roll", or when Madhuri says "Perfect" everyone applauds and relates to them. They are truly the life of the show.
It is earn it to learn it to dance with Madhuri Dixit this season, what special will you do to impress her?
I will earn it through every performance of mine, or at least will strive to do the same but I will have that dance with her. That's for sure.
Do you think Jhalak will prove to be a platform for better opportunities like that of Siddharth Shukla, Sushant Singh Rajput, etc?
I don't think even Sushant Singh Rajput or Siddharth Shukla knew they were going to get those opportunities so I guess I have to focus on what's in front of me and that's Jhalak for now. If I do well then sky is the limit just like what Karan Johar said to me after my first performance.
Well Kushal, you surely have a long way to go. Good wishes from TellyBuzz for all your future ventures.
Upasana Patel
Chota packet and entertainer 
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
