Q. How do you look back on your journey on Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa?
Shakti Mohan(SM)—The journey was extremely tough. I had to do things that I never imagined I’d do. Then the worst thing was I fell ill. I was preparing for three acts during one rehearsal when my body gave way. I had low blood pressure, etc. I couldn’t get up. I thought I wouldn’t be able to return to the show. I did get back. But last week I didn’t perform the way I thought I should. It’s almost over and I’m already missing it. I want it to start all over again. Yes, I was the only trained dancer on the show. I saw that as both an advantage and a disadvantage because everyone on the show was aware I was trained. So my performances had to go to another level. My acts couldn’t be compared with the other contestants. They could only be compared with what I had done in the past.
Ashish Sharma(AS): I’ve worked really hard, slogged to become a dancer. I started as a non-dancer and now I think I can dance. So the journey has been really enriching for me. Am I nervous? Not at all? Why should I be? I have worked very hard to get where I am. I never expected to go so far. Now that I have come here, why would I not expect to go all the way? Now that I know how to dance I feel like a complete actor.
Mouni Roy(MR): Of course I want to win. But more than winning or losing what really matters is the journey. I had been offered Jhalak many times. But I couldn’t do it earlier because of my other work commitments. I’m so glad it finally happened at a time when I was no longer doing a daily soap and my troubles at home had ended(I lost my father last year). And my choreographer Puneet proved a good partner. I really wanted to reach the finale. That meant I had completed the journey.
Karan Tacker(KT): There is so much anxiety. I’ve actually not slept properly for three nights. There’s so much pressure, now that the finale is so near.
Q. Do you think you stand a good chance of winning?
SM: Why would I want to win? I came on the show only to dance and not to win. I honesty and truly don’t want to win. I respect the position and trophy in the competition. But I honestly don’t think I’d like to win over the other contestants who started as non-dancers. It would be no great achievement for me. I’d feel no pride holding that trophy. I feel only those who danced for the first time when they came on the Jhalak stage deserve to win. My purpose was to be loved and I am getting a lot of that. If I win I’d feel guilty. Deep down within me that’s not what I want. My fans would be happy, though. Some girls have got tattoos of my name. I wonder what’s wrong with them?
KT: It’s very hard to say. I truly believe it’s my own journey that matters.I never thought I’d reach here.I keep discussing it with my family. Every year my mother would ask, ‘Beta, tu Jhalak kyon nahin karta?’ I’d tell her, ‘Main dance nahin kar sakta. Jhalak pe kya karunga?’ When I came into Jhalak I told my parents not to expect much from me. I thought I might be there for a few episodes, then get eliminated.I truly believe that my parents have lived this whole experience of Jhalak as much as I have. My mother was my best or worst critic.
MR: I think I stand a good chance. But even if I didn’t win I’d still be happy. I’ve learnt as much as I wanted to. I put my heart and soul in it.
AS. I think I stand a fairly good chance. I feel I’ve grown as a person and dancer over all these weeks on Jhalak. The judges have all seen that growth in me. Hopefully I’ll be able to show myself at my best at the finale. Even if I don’t win it’s fine.
Q. What do you think of the other 3 finalists?
MR: All of them are very good. We all want each other to do well. When someone is under the weather we are all concerned. They’ve all had their own journey on Jhalak. Shakti Mohan is in a league of her own. Though we are all competing, the vibes among us is so positive we don’t feel like we’re competing. Once we enter the Jhalak premise I feel we’re in a high-school musical. It’s like entering a completely different world. The choreographers were all friends from before the show. So naturally we the dancers too bonded in no time at all.
AS.They are all very very good. In fact as I speak to you Mukti is rehearsing in front of me. And she is amazing.
KT: All three of them are phenomenal. I think at this stage we are all equally good. But Shakti is better than us. I think every show should have one contestant to set the bar. Shakti did that.
Q. If not you, who do you think should win?
SM: I love all three of them; Karan, Ashish and Mouni. When Ashish goes on stage I can’t take my eyes off. Tacker...when he came I had no hopes for him. I thought he’s be out after the first few episodes. I told him that. But after 8-9 episodes he came into his own. Now he dances because he enjoys it. My sisters also love it when he dances. But I’m partial to Mouni. We went to college together in Delhi. I really hope she wins because she really wants to win.
MR: Shakti Mohan. She is excellent. When we see her dancing we forget whether she is a trained dancer or not. It’s just the dancing that matters.
AS. You know, the contestant who I really thought deserved to win was Akshat. He is just a little boy and his confidence level was amazing. I was shocked when he was eliminated just a week before the finale. Because more than anyone else Akshat was the the all-round surprise.
KT: Me! If Jhalak is about a non-dancer’s journey and to that extent I definitely deserve to win. I don’t think anyone else should win. And if you ask me I’ve already won. I never expected I’d come this far. Meri jeet ho chuki hai. This is what I had come to do. I never thought I’d last beyond the fifth episode. Four choreographers had to be changed. I had nothing in my favour except thee love of my fans.
Q. What are your immediate plans after the show is over? Would you continue to learn dancing?
SM: A big vacation! I really want to balance out my life. There has been too much work for the last one year. I’ve been approached for many serials. But I don’t think I want to see those Saas-Bahu thing. They come up with ideas for soaps where I am a professional. But after 20 episodes they want me with bangles and sindoor. I don’t relate to that. If I get a cool college role I’d do it.
MR: Of course I will continue to dancing. I’d never want to leave dancing. I’d be doing another show, and dancing side by side. Right now I’ve nothing on my plate after Jhalak is over. Funnily I haven’t even received any calls .
AS. A three-month holiday so I can get all my bones back in place. I’d never want to give give up dancing.
KT: I finished all my work and then came to Jhalak. Now I start on a new slate. Finally after learning dancing I’m a complete actor. Immediately after Jhalak I’ll be doing nothing, just bum around on the beach with the waves splashing on my toes.
source: pinkvilla
