Call me an idiot or call me unique: Mithun Chakraborty

Mithun Chakraborty on his signature moves and his telly journey, in a chat with Roshni K Olivera
If Amitabh Bachchan is the most popular host on TV, Mithun Chakraborty is the most popular judge. And that’s quite evident from his successful tenure as the grand master of the telly show Dance India Dance as well as its Bengali version. BT spoke to the award-winning film actor on his love for dance and for television...
What do you like best about this show? The journey’s been fantastic. The responsibility is bigger now. It has become very popular over so many seasons. And I am sure that the magic will continue.
Did you expect young boys and girls to be such good dancers when you started out with this show? I had no idea that there was so much talent in the country. There are such good dancers even in small towns. No doubt the exposure today is far more and youngsters have access to various mediums to brush up their skills. Hamare time pe toh bas ek film ko paanch baar dekh lee and seekh gaye.
If you were a teenager now, what would be your favourite form of dance? It would be just the same. I have my own style which is not a particular form and that’s exactly how it would be even if I was part of the current brigade. Yes, I have taken a bit from Elvis Presley, John Travolta and Michael Jackson, but what I finally did was very Mithun Chakraborty! You can call me an idiot or you can call me unique but I have always been very happy with my own different style.
These days, we always see you in a dance performance in movies. People want me to dance and I enjoy it too. I’m dancing in Housefull2 next.
What about acting in a TV serial? I am busy throughout the year with acting assignments and this show, but if I get a good offer and I have the time, I’ll do it. Television is every big today; in fact, at times, even bigger than films. It’s no more small and it’s time we stopped calling it the small screen.