Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
‘I DON’T WANT TO BE IN ANY CAMP, NEVER BEEN IN ONE’
REMO D’SOUZA,
Choreographer-filmmaker I had a close relationship with Saroj ji. I had danced under her and she danced in my film ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013). We choreographed the Kalank song, Tabaah Ho Gaye, together, which was her last. She changed the way Indian dances were used in cinema.
SANJAY GUPTA,
Filmmaker
When I was an assistant director, I came to a shoot and said ‘Oh shit, one more day of shooting’. Saroj ji whacked me hard on the head and said, ‘Never ever complain about having too much work.’ That was a lesson one learnt from her, that you should be happy you got work.
The music industry has come a long way, says singer Shaan, adding that today, the person who pays “controls the show”. “In the early days of movie making, companies hired their own composers, singers, artistes and actors on a monthly basis. In the last few years, the situation has become like this where music companies might insist to work with their artistes,” he recalls.
Singer Sonu Nigam had mentioned in a viral video that only two music companies run the Indian music scene. Mention this to Shaan and he says it’s not necessarily two; a lot of people have got into that kind of space. “Basically, it’s about ‘What do I get if I give you this opportunity?’ Earlier, it was purely on the basis of talent, credit...now, more than just the movie and music, the person paying the money is controlling the show,” says the 47-year-old.
Shaan goes on to say he has consciously never been a part of any group or camp. “I like to believe I’m everyone’s favourite,” he quips, adding, “I don’t want to be in any camp. I’ve never been in one. I never had to comply with anyone’s rules or bow down to anything. I have been fortunate that way. You discover more about yourself when you do that.”