| They complete twenty years of matrimony on December 21 and what better gift can they offer each other than being honoured as the champions of Star One's Nach Baliye. Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar have conquered people's hearts with their clean and consistent performances during the 10 weeks of the show. How did Nach Baliye happen to you?
Sachin: It was God-sent. It was the producer Saanvri Alagh's idea to get us on and we accepted it without a second thought. I have always followed a principle that never question the offerings of life and also never look at what it has offered to others.
Supriya: For me it was an opportunity to dance with him that seemed quite exciting. In fact, I loved the concept of real life couples exhibiting their compatibility ratios via dance. It's so original and romantic. Did you predict the popularity of the show?
Sachin: Honestly, we did not imagine that the show would become such a rage. We had come with the spirit to dedicate ourselves to the task while it lasted.
Supriya: None of us, including Al and Mel, had the killer instinct. It was the encouragement from the judges, co-contestants and the audience that made us better each time. Did you ever feel threatened by the age difference between you both and the rest of the star couples?
Sachin: Age is a state of the mind. We had given ourselves no choice but to learn and try to excel. Thankfully the rehearsal doors were always open. I think Archana and Parmeet and Varun and Rajeshwari were doing very well. But our favourite couple was Shilpa and Apurva Agnihotri. Did the prize money ever instigate you to perform better?
Sachin: The prize is always an instigator but that was not what pulled us through. In fact, till the announcement was made in the first episode that Rs 20 lakh will be given to the best choreographer, we were not even aware of it. That could have only been an onus on us to come up to the standards of Al and Mel.
Supriya: It was not Rs 50 lakh that was important. Had it been even a rupee, we would have accepted it with equal gratitude and would have worked with the same spirit. In college I had won a prize of Rs 75 as the best performer. I still have that money unspent. It's just a memory for a lifetime. What do you think made you both win?
Supriya: I think our personal rapport came through in our performances. Also the fact that a choreographer couple groomed us enhanced our presentations.
Sachin: Besides, we gave in to the visions of our choreographers completely because that is the best way to do team work. For any successful outcome there has to be one man's vision and the rest have to execute that with full honesty. That's exactly what we did. What after Nach Baliye?
Sachin: I was already planning a music and dance oriented Marathi film before Nach Baliye happened. The promising attitude of the audience to accept us encouraged me to start work on the project. It is essentially a rural film and both of us will be dancing to the tune of Marathi folk music. We are hoping to start production of Aami Satpute soon. | 
Anupamaa
