Dance with me, Asha Bhosle tells Ganesh

Courtesy: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

After getting Asha Bhosle to sing for his debut album, G, choreographer-singer Ganesh Hegde has now directed her in a music video for her album, SaReGaMa-HMV's Asha Reveals The Real R D.

Bhonsle approached him

Says an excited Ganesh, "It's a dream come true for me to work with Ashaji. The album has 22 tracks in a two-CD pack. The music video is the closest one could come to Kishore Kumar.

Ganesh Hegde

Ashaji came to me and said she wanted me to direct the song, One two cha cha cha, for her album, but the only way she would dance in it was if I danced with her. I agreed, but because of a lack of time, couldn't perform with her. I even had my costumes ready. She told me, 'Tum jo bhi karna chahte ho, mein karungi'. For the first time Ashaji has worn a red sari, instead of the blacks and whites she's normally seen in."

Ganesh adds, "Ashaji had seen my songs and liked what I did with them." Some of Ganesh's hit numbers include Kambakht ishq (Pyar Tune Kya Kiya), Khallas (Company), Mehboob mere (Fiza), O mitwa (Lagaan), Jaan mein dum (Dum) and It's magic (Koi Mil Gaya).

And has the diva danced well? "She's a legend. At 73, Ashaji is most eager to learn everything and has amazing energy. It wasn't difficult to teach her at all. The way she did the steps, kamaal hai! I have made her break-dance in the video, and also dance the salsa."

Encouraged him to sing

His connection with the singing legend goes a long way. "It was Ashaji who encouraged me to sing. I had done a show with her on Kishore Kumar's songs, where I had done the Paanch rupaiyya number and dressed like him. After I sang, she came and told me, 'After Kishore and his son Amit, you are the only one who can come close to him'. She kept telling me to give singing a chance."

Ganesh's last album, G, was quite popular. "Oh yes! I never thought it would get such a tremendous response. I had 14-year-old girls coming up to me and saying they want to marry me!"

Up ahead

Choreography, singing and now music video direction. What next? "I always need a challenge or kick to keep me going. I have done choreography for 15 years. Then I jumped into singing. After G, I have been getting acting offers for films too, and I might take them up. I would love to direct a film some day. I have written a script, a musical comedy. Maybe I will direct that one day."