Marzi Pestonji

Marzi Pestonji, the director of operations, principal dancer and senior faculty in Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts, is one of the two new mentors on Zee TV’s popular show Dance India Dance Doubles that beams every Friday and Saturday at 9.30pm on Zee TV. He spoke to t2 about dancing with every A-lister in Bollywood and about his team members from Calcutta.

How did the offer from Zee TV come to you?

The channel had come to Shiamak but he had date problems. He recommended my name as his senior-most student. My first reaction, in the presence of the channel representatives, was “No, Shiamak. I can’t do it.” But he insisted that I do it.

You have so far choreographed dancers, which is largely a backroom job. How was it facing the camera?

Oh, I was nervous at first. When the whole nation is watching, the responsibility is all that much more. But one’s work speaks. Like in stage shows, my choreography is being judged by how the dancers are performing. And I know after being with Shiamak for 18 years and learning directly from him, I can’t go wrong.

Given that you are working with new students, how did the first episode go?

The entry, in which I danced to Shankar Mahadevan’s Breathless with my team, was perfect. And then, their first item Tadap Tadap got a standing ovation from Mithunda. Some of these kids, like Rahul and Rosa, are untrained but brilliant. Calcutta boys Sourav and Vijay caught the eye with an unconventional pop-lock and contemporary routine with Eena meena deeka. You will see them doing a Shiamak-style contemporary item next to Taare Zameen Par’s Ma. Incidentally, a couple among my wild-card holders, Sharmistha and Vijay, are also from your city. They are also training regularly with us.

How has it been working with Mithun, the Grandmaster?

I have the maximum fun with him. He pulls my leg all the time. Geeta (Kapoor), who has been a part of this show for long, has also been very supportive.

How did you start out with Shiamak?

Just as a hobby, in 1993. From student, I became an assistant. My first film with him was Dil To Pagal Hai. That film changed the way the industry looks at dance. For the first time, you had dancers with lean bodies, nice looks, good style and technique. It got Shiamak a National Award. And Madhuri (Dixit) was out of the world. It was an honour to dance behind her.

What have your other film assignments been?

Next we flew to Toronto for Taal. Madhuri and Aishwarya are the finest dancers in the industry. That is why you can never have another Dola re (Devdas). Then we did Bunty Aur Babli, Dhoom 2, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi…Then there are loads of shows like IIFA, the Unforgettable tour of the Bachchans. I have danced with every actor and actress you can name.

Who would your favourites be?

Mr Bachchan. Even if he does two things he would do them with grace. On the Unforgettable tour, he would stand and deliver his lines from Agneepath and Deewar, with exactly the same emotions as in the film and such is his charisma that the whole auditorium would stand and clap non-stop for five minutes. Yet such is his humility that even if he is five minutes late, he would call himself and say he is sorry. He, Shah Rukh, Hrithik, Rani are very punctual people. Though Abhishek and I bond very well, Mr Bachchan is my favourite.

My all-time favourite actress is Sridevi. The day I saw Chaalbaaz I lost my heart to her. It was a dream-come-true to choreograph her solo taandav piece in an award show that marked her return to stage three years back. My favourite is the song Kaate naahin kat-te from Mr India, which my team members Amit and Falon have danced to. It got them a second consecutive salute from Mithunda.

As dancers, which actors would be your favourites?

Hrithik and Shahid, without doubt. I had done many ads with Hrithik. So I knew what to expect from him during Dhoom 2. Shahid of course has been with Shiamak for seven years. He was training to be an actor yet he spent so much time on dancing. That is why he looks like a dancer today. You must have seen him in that Kahin aag lage song in Taal. He was the one who wraps the cloth piece around Aishwarya’s head in the end! And I love Govinda. He dances with his heart and face.