Akki's beta grooves to papa's number

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Farah Khan must be getting rave reviews for her choreography in her husband Shirish Kunder's debut film, Jaan-E-Mann, but the biggest compliment came from Akshay Kumar's son, Aarav. He loved Farah's moves in the song Jaane ke jaane na and wanted her to perform it for him.

Aaja nach le

Says Farah, "Sometime back I had dropped in to meet Akshay when he was shooting. Aarav was there with him in the van.

A few of Akshay's friends were also with him. Aarav told me his favourite song in the movie was Jaane ke jaane na and asked me to show him the steps like the dwarves perform in the song - raising their legs. He wanted me to show him the steps which I found very cute."

Akshay adds, "Aarav likes this particular song more than the others. He has been perfecting his dancing skills while watching the television. He loves doing all that."

Farah says doing the choreography for Jaan-e-Mann was the toughest film she's done in her life. I don't really recommend anyone working with one's husband," she grins.

"Shirish was very clear about what kind of songs he wanted in the genre of a musical. He kept pushing me harder and harder. Shirish didn't want any ordinary steps I had been doing. But because of his pushing, Jaan-e-Mann is one of my best works after Main Hoon Naa, certainly my most innovative.

Shirish got the best out of me. He reminds me of Mani Ratnam, who would ask me to keep doing something different.

This has been the toughest film to choreograph but after a long time I think I have given some path-breaking numbers. Shirish and I argued a lot about the steps but never in front of the unit. We did all the discussions at home."

She adds, "Shirish had been a choreographer during his college days. So there were times during the making of Jaan-e-Mann when I couldn't come for the shooting and would send my assistant Piyush to do the needful. Shirish would be quite relaxed and happily take my place."

Tedious job

Which is her favourite choreographed number in the film? "Humko maloom hai. The big sets, the lavish costumes - everything was much more difficult to do. It's not just a song but is telling an entire story through a song - romance, break-up, regret, pain et al. But then other songs weren't a cakewalk either.

Jaane ki jane na was very tedious and painful, especially for Anupam (Kher). It was very painful for him to dance on his knees but not once did he complain. There are lots of special effects in every song."

And how were the two heroes - Akshay and Salman? "They were the best! One had to play a dude (Salman) and the other a geek (Akshay). Salman would see Akshay in his geek get-up and crack up with laughter. But not once did either of them ask me to give better steps. They had confidence and they showed it. They are both above such pettiness."

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