Dancer and choreographer Shakti Mohan recently revealed that she refused to take payment for choreographing a song in Padmaavat. She considered working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali to be her most important career achievement because the experience brought her greater value than any financial reward. Mohan explained that working with the famous director provided her with both ultimate professional fulfillment and educational opportunities because she regarded him as a creative genius.
Why She Chose Not To Accept Payment
Shakti Mohan explained her decision to refuse payment when project discussions reached the point of discussing her compensation. She reportedly told Bhansali that she felt she should be paying him instead because of the invaluable learning experience she was gaining while working on the film. The project made Mohan proud because it allowed her to work with a legendary director who dedicated himself to developing his artistic vision.
Working With a Perfectionist Director
Mohan described Sanjay Leela Bhansali as an extremely strict director who paid close attention to every detail that he worked with. She explained that the filmmaker establishes his perfectionist standards to create an environment where all crew members must maintain their complete concentration. According to her, he pays attention to all aspects of work, which include the smallest details from lighting to element placement in a frame. She used humor to explain that Bhansali has such strong observational skills that he can detect whenever someone breathes.
The Challenging Song Shoot With Deepika Padukone
Shakti Mohan described her professional relationship with Deepika Padukone through their work on the song performance. She disclosed that extensive rehearsals did not take place because the actress needed to complete her full shooting timetable. The crew had to execute all dance movements through direct instruction, which occurred on location. Deepika faced her most difficult dance performance when she had to dance while standing on a stone in a lake while wearing a saree and holding a bow. The complex filming process needed several takes, which demanded precise teamwork between the actor and choreographer.
From Reality Show Star to Acclaimed Choreographer
Shakti Mohan first gained widespread recognition after participating in the dance reality show Dance India Dance. She has established herself as a mainstay in the entertainment industry through her work as a performer and choreographer throughout her entire career. Her work on Padmaavat served as a major career advancement because it showed how she evolved from being a background dancer to performing with top Bollywood actors.
