Toby is last year's winner—the miraculous choreographer who turned non-dancer Mona into a sensational one. He almost did the same with Sonali, but failed to get the judges support. Toby tells us about his experience of working with these talented actresses and Sanjay Leela Bansali in Saawariya. This rocking choreographer has many more exciting projects to look forward to.
Was the elimination shocking?
Definitely, I didn't expect it. Our growth was very visible throughout the show. I had the feeling that the audience backed us and we were surviving only on votes. Maybe if the judges had given us a little more points, we would have survived. But I think it's all in the game, it's a gamble. You just have to know that in a reality competition there are never any rules… it can bounce any way. At the back of my mind, I was always ready to go.
How different was it to train Sonali and Mona?
In training Mona and Sonali, there was one thing in common—both of them were 100 per cent good disciples. They learnt everything I told them. They never hesitated to push themselves. That is one thing that made me push them a little more. Also, I am happy that I could use my creativity.
Last year the judges were not kind to Mona either. Were you angry about it?
Yes, it's like history repeating itself. But if we put ourselves in the judges' places, they are here to decide who dances the best. Last year Sweta was dancing the best, that's why she was their favourite. This year Sandhya is dancing the best. So, you can't help but accept the truth.
After last year's win, was it disheartening to lose this time?
I never compared my last year's experience to this year. Whatever happened was a different ballgame. This year there is a different person, the game is different. I always made sure I gave Sonali the best I could. I wanted to make her weaknesses her strengths.
What were Sonali's weaknesses as a dancer?
She has just learnt how to dance. She was a bharatnatyam dancer as a child, so she is flat footed. I had to convert all that, which was a slow progress. She had to work hard to change her whole body language into being who she is right now. I had to use her expressions more—as a choreographer that's how I used her strengths and weaknesses.
Tell us about your choreography in Saawariya.
I did the Pari song in Saawariya. It was a very touching song where this boy comes to the prostitutes and tells them 'you're doing it out of your will to survive; you're not doing it for pleasure; you're still god's loved human beings; life will change; a fairy will come one day'.
Working with Sanjay Leela Bansali I learned to see everything through the naked eyes. I did what the story asked for, there were no extra dance movements. It was reality. It was straightforward. We had to remind the people that life is this way; it is not two-timing you. If it's cruel, it's cruel.
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Kumkum Bhagya
