Wanna learn the jhatkas and matkas? -
By DNA, 25th September 2006

Choreographer Farah Khan dons the professor’s cap at Whistling Woods International

Subhash Ghai’s film school Whistling Woods International has the best film faculty till date including personalities Naseeruddin Shah, Shyam Benegal and Aruna Raje. The latest to don the professor’s cape was choreographer/director Farah Khan.

Farah spoke on ‘The importance of Song Picturisation in Indian Cinema’ but instead of imparting a lecture, she asked the students to throw questions at her. On discussion were her famous songs – ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ (‘Dil Se’), ‘Chale Jaise Hawayen’ (‘Main Hoon Na’) and ‘Ek Haseena Thi’ (‘Karz’).

Sharing interesting anecdotes, she mentioned that while shooting ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’, Malaika Arora-Khan was tied to a thin rope to prevent her from falling onto the railway tracks if she lost her balance. Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, took no precautions and insisted on dancing on the hot engine.

Then it was Ghai’s turn to share his experiences. He revealed the criticism he faced during his initial years when he was told that he had no music sense. “I finished shooting ‘Ek Haseena Thi’ in four days and I also shot ‘Om Shanti Om’ along with it,” he said.

Incidentally, ‘Om Shanti Om’ is the title of Farah’s next film after her directorial debut venture ‘Main Hoon Na’. She will begin shooting in January and has even offered Ghai a role!