Vyjayanthimala Bali, 80, charms Delhi with rare performance

Classical dance and music aficionados in the capital were in for a treat as danseuse and yesteryear actress

Vyjayanthimala Bali

performed here. The 80-year-old was in Delhi to accept a lifetime achievement award, and gave a rare performance the next day.

A packed hall
The auditorium was packed with music lovers and after her performance, in her tinkling voice, Vyjayanthimala thanked the audience for coming to the event. She said, "It’s always a pleasure to perform here. I’ve always been connected to dance spiritually."

From acting in films like 'Sangam' and 'Devdas' to politics, she might have worked in many fields, but nothing has diminished her dedication to dance. And even on this day, the audience could not get enough of her footwork and mudras.

An inspiration
Divyesh Gupta, an audience member, told us, "It was truly a unique concert and watching Vyjayanthimala perform is indeed a rare sight." Another member of the audience, Priyanka Chattopadhyay, said, "I still remember when I was learning classical dance, she was my inspiration. I left it long back; now my daughters are training in it, so when I heard that she was performing here, I brought them to the show."

Ayaan Ali Khan

(L) and

Amaan Ali

Khan also performed on the stage

Aye, aye captain
After Vyjayanthimala, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan also performed on the stage. The brothers were dressed in complementing kurtas, as always. Ayaan said, “Parampara ke anusar, itne bade diggaj ke baad manch par baithna uchit nahin hai. Lekin yeh unhi ka aadesh tha isiliye hum yahan hain.”