Shiamak Davar choreographed all the dance performances for the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre gala. Ask about his favourite moment and the National Film Award-winning choreographer recalls the time “when Shah Rukh Khan (actor) appeared on stage”. He says, “We rehearsed his performance on Jhoome Jo Pathaan 21 times at his house. He was such a sweetheart. It took me a week to choreograph all the performances.”

Spilling the beans on what it was like to be there at the lavish affair, the 61-year-old says, “It was an intimate affair. My team, managers and assistants had put in a lot of hard work and I couldn’t believe how wonderful it (the performances) turned out. My dearest Nita and Mukesh (Ambani) were clapping and screaming, while Isha (Ambani; entrepreneur-daughter) and I sat on the steps and watched the whole show. Rekha ji (actor) was there, too. The energy in the room was wonderful and so positive.”

What was also special for him was working with his students Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt (actors) again.

“I also got to work with Shah Rukh after so many years. Alia was fabulous and Rashmika Mandanna (actor) was outstanding. Varun is my jaan, he is such a sweetheart. He learnt all the new steps and worked really hard. Ranveer Singh (actor) is so high-octane,” exclaims Davar.

Videos of actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan’s Jhoome Jo Pathaan (Pathaan) act and Alia Bhatt and Rashmika Mandanna dancing to the beats of Naatu Naatu (RRR; 2022) at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) gala on Saturday night broke the internet. Another clip from the event that surfaced and became the talk of the town was the part where Dhawan excitedly swoops up American model Gigi Hadid in his arms and twirls her around, giving her a peck on the cheeks. Social media was abuzz with chatter that her consent wasn’t involved.

While Hadid made it clear through an Insta Story that she was happy with what happened, choreographer Shiamak Davar, who directed all the acts for the night, tells us, “Varun told me that Gigi said to him, ‘When you are going to be on stage, bring me up’, to which he said, ‘Okay’. That’s why he picked her up. It was her idea and everything was pre-planned.”

Mention the discussion on consent that’s doing the rounds and Davar asserts, “It is not true. It is Gigi who told Varun [to do so].” The choreographer adds that he was amazed with the kind of response that moment received: “I couldn’t believe how much they (the audience present at the do) loved it. Mukesh (Ambani; business magnate-host) had tears in his eyes and [his wife] Nita (Ambani; philanthropist and host) was wiping them.”