Dancing diva

Dance not only made Karisma Kapoor one of Hindi cinema’s most popular performers but also helped shape her as an actor by making her more expressive, says the Bollywood star. The 52-year-old actress, who has returned as a judge on the television dance reality show, made a mark in the 1990s with her energetic and expressive dance style in hit songs such as Le Gayi, Sona Kitna Sona Hai, Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha, and Husn Hai Suhana.

“As a dancer, you have to be very expressive. And only if you are very expressive, will you be considered a good dancer. Dancing is not just a robotic thing, so you have to be very expressive in any sort of dance form,” she told PTI.

“So, it helped me in my career, especially for expressions and in songs and in acting,” the actress further added.

While dancing brought her popularity, Karisma credits films such as Fiza (2000) and Zubeidaa (2001) for proving her acting range.

 “Films like Fiza, Zubeidaa, Shakti: The Power (2002) and Biwi No. 1 (1999) also have been an integral part of my journey. It proved I could do both. They’re all pieces of my heart,” Kapoor said. The actress, who has won several accolades for her dancing skills, said her passion for dance began in her childhood through formal training in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and later jazz.

“It was a love of dance that I used to go for the classes. I just loved acting, loved dance and anything artistic and creative,” Kapoor said. She also credited the late legendary choreographer Saroj Khan for shaping her Bollywood dance vocabulary.