salman speaks

Recently, while practising for Jhalak Dikhhla Ja, it was rumoured that actor Drashti Dhami of Madhubala fame in Colours, had a fall. While dancers injuring themselves during practice is not uncommon, the fact that Drashti's partner in the show is choreographer Salman whose earlier partner Isha Sharvani, too, had hurt herself, raises some questions. Are his moves too tough for amateur dancers? Should he be a bit more considerate and not expect them to perform like professional hardcore dancers?

We caught up with Salman and asked him whether he was being too hard on his partners.

"Nothing is easy or hard. It depends on the dancers' abilities. Also, if they are injured it is their own responsibility. Anyone can get injured if they do the wrong steps, a celebrity or the choreographer. In fact, recently, the choreographers of Siddhartha Shukla and Aarti Chhabria had to quit the show because they were injured," says Salman in his defence.

"The celebrities do not come from dancing backgrounds. They have not learnt hard-core dance techniques. With the show becoming more competitive, they need to give their best," he adds.

"My advice to dancers is always to be alert; we can get hurt even while walking. Like any other sport, in dancing, too, we need to keep our body in control. Any dancer can get hurt from a wrong move.

"Reality dance shows have to be done in one breath; obviously we need to increase our energy levels along with learning the right techniques. These shows are nothing like the easy dancing in Bollywood movies," says the choreographer.

About his former partner Isha Sharvani's injury, Salman says, "Isha had hurt herself while dancing though she is an experienced dancer. Drashti, however, had not actually fallen. Some photographer had clicked her while she was lying down on the floor panting for breath after her rigorous practice. Her picture has sent a wrong message. She is an energetic performer and tries her best. "Even Isha was not hurt while I was teaching her; not many know that an international choreographer, James, was training her when she got injured. Whether taught by an Indian guru or a foreign choreographer, dancers can get hurt if they don't do the steps right."

"I may be a hard task master but my dancing steps given to celebrities are not hard. With Jhalak turning into a dancing battle field I have to choreograph with the best of my abilities," ends Salman.