'I am not a great dancer'
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| dance dhamaal: Kunal Kohli |
Says Kunal Kohli, and yet he is judging the second season of Nach Baliye. Find out why…
Tushar Joshi
Tushar.joshi@mid-day.com
Kunal Kohli, the director of films like Hum Tum and Fanaa, has replaced the suave Farhan Akhtar as a judge in the second season of Nach Baliye 2. We quiz him on his dance quotient.
Do you enjoy dancing?
I enjoy dancing, but I wouldn't call myself a great dancer. I am more into dancing to Bollywood numbers.
What makes you eligible to be a judge on Nach Baliye 2?
I think there's a nice mix of judges on the show: one's a choreographer, another is a dancer/actress and finally a film director. I think the reason I was asked to be a part of the show is because of my interest in all forms of dance. I spoke to Farhan as well and he told me it's a great show. I didn't want to do television just for the sake of being on it. It didn't take a long time for me to say yes. They wanted some one who could give time to the show and I was ready for the task.
What kind of a judge do you think you will be?
I see myself as someone who's honest to the point of being blunt. I don't see myself being rude and saying nasty things to these people. I hate to see some one crying and I don't want to be the cause of anyone's tears.
Have you watched the first season of the show?
One of the reasons I am doing Nach Baliye 2 is because I enjoyed the first season so much. I didn't follow it that religiously but asked for the DVDs and sat through the entire first season. Not only was I impressed, but also engrossed as a viewer.
Do you know any of the television actors from this season personally?
Not really. I just know Gauri Pradhan, that too because we worked together in a music video a decade ago. Interestingly, it had John (Abraham) in it and this was even before he enrolled himself for the Gladrags contest. To top it all, Saroj Khan choreographed the video, so it's going to be good fun to meet Gauri after such a long time. Otherwise, I don't know any of these actors personally.
What's your all time favourite dance movie?
It has to be West Side Story, for its amazing dance numbers and choreographed sequences.
Who is your favourite dancer in Bollywood?
Among the guys, it has to be Hrithik and Aamir. I watched Aamir dance in Rang De Basanti and was totally impressed. Among the ladies, I love Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. They are top-notch dancers.
What's your equation with the other judges Malaika Arora and Saroj Khan?
I have worked with Saroj Khan in over 15 music videos, so we know each other. I recently did a photo shoot with Malaika, and she's a fabulous person and a terrific dancer. I think it's interesting that all three of us have distinct personalities.
