No Khan, no jaan?

Caustic Cat: Saroj Khan	New Entry: Vaibhavi Merchant

Imagine calling a female contestant manly! Fiery as ever, judge Saroj Khan let out a nasty salvo at Shweta Kawaatra who did not know what hit her when the ace choreographer commented on her lack of femininity and grace in her dance steps.

There were many such incidents when Khan drove the contestants to tears with her colourful comments. In the third season of Nach Baliye 3, couples will not be subjected to Sarojji's candid, albeit brutal remarks.

For the aam junta this is disappointing as Khan brought in a certain kind of masala, but some participants are heaving a sigh of relief! Read on:

Rakhi Sawant and Abhishek Awasthi

Amita Chandekar and Karan Patel

He says: Saroj has been in the industry for such a long time and she had every right to speak her mind. This competition is all about pointing out the mistakes.

She says: Whatever the channel decides is for the betterment of the show. I am not thinking on those lines. I am concentrating on my rehearsals only.


Shweta Keswani and Alex O'Neill

She says: I would have loved to have Saroj Khan. I loved the whistles and the money element she brought in. She made it so endearing.

He says: Given a choice between disappointment and relief, I would pick the latter. I have seen some of Saroj's comments.

She was bang on target, but I don't think they were constructive. Such remarks can be discouraging. Mallaika Arora-Khan balanced the show by some soft remarks.


Shivangi Kapoor and Shakti Kapoor

She says: Saroj is my favourite since years. My sister Padmini used to do her dance numbers and I interacted with her then. She is fabulous. I am extremely disappointed that she won't be judging the show this season.

He says: I am there for fun and enjoyment. Whosoever the judges are going to be, god bless them. But I wish Saroj was there.

I have done so many films with her and it would have been great to interact with her again. She is unarguably the best choreographer in Bollywood.


Amita and Vikas Sethi

She says: Saroj is a legend and I am disappointed that I won't be able to meet her. Yes, she is a demanding taskmaster. But lets not forget she showered praise too when the contestants performed well.

He says: I wouldn't say that I am relieved. I am sure that Vaibhavi (Merchant) too will definitely have strong comments on our performances.


Kavita Kaushik and Karan Grover

She says: I am a very positive person. I don't want to go into the show with ifs and buts in my mind. Saroj was a very honest judge and I am sure Vaibhavi will also do a fair job.

He says: I felt bad when I learnt that Saroj was not judging NB 3. I wanted to perform for her. I am not feeling relieved about her absence because, I am not a great dancer.

Mera choreographer hi mujhe gaali dega. Those who have felt hurt by her comments in the past two seasons of Nach Baliye, must be sensitive and egoistic people.


Sanjeeda Sheikh and Aamir Ali

She says: I am not feeling relieved at Saroj's absence if that's what you want to hear. I was mentally prepared for caustic comments.

He says: When I learnt that Saroj was not doing it, I myself didn't know if I was going ahead with it. I will miss her. She was blunt no doubt, but it's good to be blunt.

Her absence will not reduce the weight of the show. Nach Baliye is a big show. Ek insaan ke hone ya na hoone se kuch farak nahin padega.


Kashmera Shah and Krishna Abhishek

She says: I wouldn't have minded Saroj. Her cutting remarks had a purpose. There was so much that one could learn from her. See that the glass is half-full rather than seeing it as half-empty.

He says: We will miss her Charisma and her dakshinas. Many contestants do talk in hushed whispers that they are relieved that she is not there, but we now have a new tension: How will Vaibhavi be? Can she be more outspoken than Saroj? We don't know anything about her!


Pooja Bedi and Hanif Lal

She says: As a viewer, you may be disappointed to see that Saroj is not there now- but as a contestant, I am super thrilled that I will escape the super qualified scrutiny.(laughs).

He says: Saroj is a master in terms of understanding a dance. She used to get into the nitty-gritty and technical aspects of every act and it was a treat to watch all that. But yes, she was harsh. As a contestant, you don't want to listen to harsh things

Ritu Jhanjani and Kiran Jhanjani

She says: Saroj would have added lots of spice to the show. Honestly, I wouldn't have feared her. I was watching some old episodes of Nach Baliye lately and I noticed that if she took someone's case, it invariably bettered their next performance.

He says: If Vaibhavi says something then the contestants might have an ego problem with it. You don't mind so much if an elderly person tells you something.I wouldn't have minded her presence. She is a rock star.

https://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/september/163857.htm