Smarter moves

I began working with ace choreographer Ganesh Acharya in 2000. I consider this to be one of the biggest turning points in my life because working with him gave me a platform to showcase my skills in Bollywood and helped me make a place for myself in the film industry.

I was born and raised in Chennai where my father was a well-known choreographer in Malayalam movies. As a result, I grew up watching dancers rehearsing in my house all the time. I still remember those times when my father would put me in charge of the music player during practice sessions. I’d happily handle the music and gradually my interest in choreography grew just by watching the dancers perform every day.

In 1995 I began working with acclaimed choreographer Chinni Prakash in Chennai. I had to travel to Mumbai frequently for film shoots and that’s where I met Ganesh Acharya, became friends with him and eventually began working with him. Our association continued for five years.

The next major milestone came when I landed a chance to assist veteran choreographer Prabhudeva. It happened when I was assistant choreographer in the film Shakti: The Power in 2002 with Ganesh Acharya. Prabhudeva had a solo song in it and while shooting for it we became friends and he asked me to assist him choreograph Hrithik Roshan in the song Main Aisa Kyun Hoon in Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya (2004). The song became a rage and there’s been no looking back for me since.

Later when Prabhudeva made his directorial debut with the Telugu film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana he picked me as the film’s solo choreographer. It marked another major milestone in my career for it was the first time for me to be choreographing on my own and not as an assistant.

Currently, I’m busy working on Omung Kumar’s Sarbjit starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda, while the other films in my kitty are Great Grand Masti and Baa Baa Black Sheep. In the near future, I’d like to direct a film but I’m happy to wait for the right opportunity to come along.

(As told to Lubna Salim)