'Ghoomar' choreographer Kruti Mahesh recalls how Sanjay Leela Bhansali reacted when she said no to 'Ram Leela'

Every person in the Hindi film industry seems to have a Sanjay Leela Bhansali story, and choreographer Kruti Mahesh is no exception. Known for her work on 'Tilasmi Baahein' from 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,' Kruti has collaborated closely with Bhansali on projects like 'Bajirao Mastani,' 'Padmaavat,' and 'Gangubai Kathiawadi.'

During a recent interview, Kruti recalled receiving a call from Bhansali's office in 2012. However, she had to decline Bhansali’s offer to choreograph a song in 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela' due to prior commitments, which understandably disappointed the renowned director.She told Radio Nasha, "I was a skipper on Dance India Dance Li’l Masters and Bhansali sir was shooting Ram Leela. I got a call from his office and was asked to meet him. During that time, I was working with Remo sir on and off, if not on TV, then on some other projects. I was intimidated by the meeting and I told myself, ‘Yeh kya ho raha hai (What’s happening).’ He was supposed to give me a song to choreograph in Ram Leela. He gave me a CD, and before I could hear it, it was taken back from me, and I was told, ‘Aapko call aayega (You will get a call).’ I thought I lost the opportunity,” she shared.

A few weeks later, Kruti Mahesh, the choreographer behind 'Garmi,' got a call from one of Bhansali’s assistant directors, informing her that the director wanted her to go to Kutch for 15 days. However, Kruti, who was committed to a TV show and had already signed a contract, had to decline the opportunity. “I couldn’t afford to be away for 2 weeks, which equated to me not shooting for four episodes. I couldn’t breach the contract and get into a legal issue. I didn’t have the money to get into any legal issues. I was upset and felt like the opportunities were slipping away from my hands,” she concluded.

Almost two years later, while Kruti was assisting Remo D’Souza on Bajirao Mastani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali came to see the rehearsals and kept looking at her. She hoped that he didn't recognize her. “He pointed his finger at me and said aloud, ‘You had come to meet me for Ram Leela!’” Later, when Kruti was working on Bhansali’s set again, the filmmaker approached her and asked, “You don’t want to work with me? You didn’t do the song in Ram Leela.” She replied, “Why wouldn’t anyone work with you? I was bound by a contract and didn’t have the money to file a legal case.”

After wrapping up filming for 'Bajirao Mastani', Bhansali approached her and asked if she would be interested in collaborating with him on a song. “I went like, ‘Of course!’ I remember asking Remo sir if I should take up this offer, and he was very supportive,” she added. The 'Ghoomar' choreographer, sharing her experience of working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, said, “It is wonderful to be on his sets and watch him make a film on his canvas. He works beautifully with frames. I don’t think any other director in India does it the way he does. As a choreographer, I let him breathe and give him his space.”

Lastly, she opened up on how she bagged with 'Heeramandi', “I think he assumes that I am going to be there. I never ask him how many songs I am going to do. If he feels he needs me, he will call for me and if he feels someone else could do it better, he will ask them to do it. I never question his process.”

Adding more, she did the first song with Aditi Rao Hydari for the mujra sequence.




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