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Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 15, 2015)

Choreographer Remo D’Souza made his directorial debut with 3D dance film ABCD, which was made by culling dancers from various talent hunt shows. For the sequel, however, he managed to rope in mainstream actors Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor for the lead roles and took it to the next level. Here, he talks about the difficulties in making a dance film, his favourite dancing stars and more..

With Varun and Shraddha in ABCD 2, your film has become big. Was that always the plan?
It’s true that I wanted to make the sequel bigger in terms of scale and energy. However, when I signed Varun and Shraddha, they were average stars. I signed Varun after Student Of The Year and Shraddha was on board when she wasn’t even doing Ek Villain. But during the shoot of my film, Varun’s Main Tera Hero and Badlapur released and were hits, While Shraddha’s Ek Villain was a blockbuster. So, from average stars they became very big stars. It helps my film, so that’s great.

What prompted you to cast them?
It was the requirement of the characters. I wanted Varun because besides being an energetic, vibrant dancer, he is a very good actor and this role requires him to be intense. It was he who suggested Shraddha’s name. I was actually thinking of getting some American dancer because I wasn’t sure I would get that level of a dancer here, and one who would look good with Varun. Shraddha is Varun’s childhood friend and he said she is a good dancer.

What was your reaction?
I was like, ‘Shraddha, is she really a good dancer? I have never seen her dance’. She is pretty and a good actress too, but I wanted to see her dancing skills. I was surprised when she showed me her moves! More than dance, I saw a lot of passion in her. I told her ‘Maintain that throughout, give me time, and I will make you a good dancer’. Shraddha has turned out to be brilliant. I feel proud of her.

Is it difficult to make a dance film?
It is very difficult. In fact, when somebody asked Prabhu sir (Prabhu Dheva) whether he will make a dance film, he said he can’t. That’s because it is mentally and physically stressful. A love story is just about two people falling in love, but in a dance film, you not only need dance but a story. Also, the story-telling has to be good, else people will get bored. It takes a lot out of you time-wise, money-wise and effort-wise. And, if it’s a 3D film, then it’s double.

Will you make ABCD 3?
I don’t think so, though Varun and Shraddha want me to make it! ABCD 2 is not one, but 10 steps ahead of ABCD. I have given my everything to this film. I don’t know if I can give anything more on dancing.

It’s based on a real story, isn’t it?
Yes, it is about Suresh and Vernon who hail from Nallasoapara and have a dance group called Fictitious. It’s about their journey to Las Vegas. What’s amazing about their story is they watched various dance groups on videos, copied them and later competed with them! Varun plays Suresh’s role and one of my dancers plays Vernon.

Who, according to you, are the best dancers in the industry besides Varun?
Undoubtedly, Hrithik Roshan who everyone knows is a brilliant dancer. Then there’s Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and even Arjun Kapoor. Now there’s a new dancing sensation in Tiger Shroff.

And among the heroines?
Deepika Padukone is a brilliant dancer and so is Priyanka Chopra. If I have to go back, it would be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and of course, Madhuri Dixit who is numero uno in dancing. Shraddha has also proved to be one. Now, I think Alia needs a dance film!

Despite good dancers in the industry, why weren’t dance films made?
I don’t know. Hrithik became a big star after Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Everyone knew that he is a superb dancer, but he got action movies and love stories after that. Nobody gave him a dance film. Shahid proved that he is a good dancer with his debut film Ishq Vishk. Though he did get one dance film Chance Pe Dance, that film had no dance at all! People forget that if you are making a dance film, you have to make sure it has dance also.