Arshad Warsi never gets to dance!

Oct 14, 2008 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS) He is a fantastic dancer and a great choreographer, but Arshad Warsi never gets to dance in most of his films. He rues that he is not being allowed to shake a leg in any of his forthcoming movies, including "Chance Pe Dance" and "Shortcut", either.

For a dancer, doing a film called "Chance Pe Dance" with no dancing is akin to punishment.

"What can I do?" Arshad protested. "I love to dance. I know I dance well. But directors don't allow me to dance. In 'Chance Pe Dance', I play this out-and-out loser who needs that one big break to change his life. And when that break happens, all hell breaks loose. Sadly, I don't get to dance again," Arshad told IANS.

"Chance Pe Dance" is being directed by Rohit Shetty's assistant, Raminder Singh Suri.

Arshad impressed with his dancing skills in his debut film "Tere Mere Sapne". Before entering Bollywood, he worked as a choreographer for stage shows. He also opened a dance school and won an English Jazz Dancing Competition when he was 21.

In Arshad's last release "Krazzy 4", it was Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan who got to do dance numbers and in his next release "Shortcut", Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor have been roped in to jive with leading lady Amrita Rao.

"I've many times asked directors to let me do some dancing. But they've ignored my request. This is a funny and strange industry. But I love it even if some people choose to be unfair to me."

According to a source associated with a project that Arshad was offered, "The film's hero had laid a pre-condition - no dancing from Arshad. If you look at any of Arshad's big projects with big banners in recent times -- 'Munnabhai', 'Shortcut', 'Krazzy 4' or even 'Salaam Namastey', the other guys got to dance.

"In 'Krazzy 4', Irrfan Khan got to dance with Rakhi Sawant. Not Arshad. In fact, the hero in our film specifically forbade Arshad from moving a leg saying he's, as it is, a scene stealer and we don't need him to be a floor burner."

Is this one of the reasons why Arshad is producing his own film?

"Probably, yes. You could say that. My film is looking gorgeous. We've one more schedule to go in Goa. Then we'll be done," said Arshad.

After going with the working title "I Believe In Angels" throughout its making in London, Arshad has finally zeroed in on "Kaun Bola" as the final title for his first production. The film stars Diya Mirza in the female lead.

"We've named the film 'Kaun Bola'. See the film, and you'll know why. It's the perfect title. Hopefully, audiences will agree," said Arshad.

The film is being directed by Kabeer Kaushik who made "Seher" with Arshad.

He was so busy with his first home production that he had to give up hosting the second season of reality TV show "Bigg Boss".

" 'Kaun Bola' has taken away more from me than I can express. 'Bigg Boss' is in fine hands now. Shilpa Shetty looks really hot on the show," Arshad remarked.