Strange as it may sound, Farah Khan actually got her first chance at choreography by dancing behind trees, and not around them. She started her career as an assistant to Saroj Khan for Mansoor Khan's Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. After the first 15 days of shooting, they decided to shoot the song `Pehla nasha' at Kodaikanal. "We thought the song would be kind of young and upbeat. But the choreographer made it look a bit filmi, with everyone standing straight in a line, gyrating to the music," says Farah. All the young dancers in the group found it impossible to do the pelvic thrusts and complained to Farah. The Shiamak Davar-trained dancer could not contain herself and took the dancers behind bush cover and showed them alternative steps. They then went back and asked if they could do it that way. And the first step for them was a giant leap for Farah.Trendier, more hip moves were constantly suggested until Saroj Khan packed her bags -- halfway through the song, while they were still in Ooty.For Mansoor Khan, her obvious replacement was the young Farah. And while `Pehla nasha' broke ground with its fresh and natural look, a new choreographer was born.
As was a new style of working. Farah does not tell dancers what to do, instead she jumps right in and everyone has one big party. Finally, she choreographs a number based on the steps the actors pick up -- making for a more natural style. The Farah Khan USP. "We just do a jig together. This way it looked so fresh and casual," she says.
Farah has done Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1942, A Love Story and Kundan Shah's Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na. Today, the thirtysomething has everyone dancing to the tune of `Chhaiyan chhaiyan', in Dil Se, which she choreographed in four-and-a-half days. "We had the train only for five days. So we just climbed on the roof and started shooting. Shah Rukh jumped one fearlessly -- but then he does anything you ask him to," she says.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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