Being a diehard SRK fan, when I heard about the event at the Fairmont in San Jose where people would get to interact with SRK, my immediate reaction was “I'M GOING!”
One look at the ticket prices and my plans were DEMOLISHED... $500 (later reduced to $250) for VIP and $100 for regular. I mean, who can afford that? YA RIGHT! There were folks, with full family, bacchas and all, bejeweled and caked, to take their pics with SRK.
That same evening, Mona, with the demeanor of a person who is going to drop a freaking bomb, told us about the event. Veiling her words in an air of complete nonchalance, she told us how they approached her to feature her brand new company, Mona Sampath Dance Company, which I am a proud part of.
The next few days were unreal. We had one week to put together a MIND BLASTING (for the difference between mind blowing & mind blasting, watch Russell Peters) act to honor King Khan. Besides the incredible excitement was the nagging fear that this may not come through. I mean there is no contract, no mention of our name, NOTHING! Not to mention
several Bay Area companies, swarming around the organizers, offering to PAY THEM to perform!
But we set out to do what we know best: DANCE.
Mona put together the mind blasting medley of song and dialogue, selecting epic songs from SRK’s movies. The medley itself was a driving force, but TREMENDOUS work lay ahead. Over the next week, we worked endlessly to prepare something that would truly capture the essence of Shah Rukh Khan. We incorporated different dance styles, moods, and props to prepare a 9-minute dance. Buckets of sweat, toil, endless rehearsals and bottles of Gatorade, led to our SRK medley.
Then of course, the costumes arrived and we realized that we had to wear heels. It was immaterial that we were expected to jump on tables, run from spot to spot, fall on the floor and basically tear apart the stage. Blisters followed soreness; but the dancing continued.
Finally THE DAY arrived. We arrived at the Fairmont, at 3 pm, for the technical rehearsal. Then began the waiting game.SRK was supposed to arrive at 8pm, but didn’t arrive till 11pm. Meanwhile we waited in the room, the corridor, the room again, the corridor again and finally the dingy kitchen. All this while, with 3-inch long heels, curled hair kept in place with half a bottle of hair spray and several props. All this while, we grumbled about not being at the grand entrance, where the fans were milling to greet him. Luck was on our side though, and at 11:05pm, SRK walked in, not through the grand red carpet entrance, but THROUGH THE KITCHEN.
After a quick picture, and the fact that some of us had been rendered BREATHLESS and SPEECHLESS, it was show time. We began dancing.
SRK pulled his chair closer as dialogues and soundtracks enmeshed. And closer when "main hoon don" came. And closer, smiling now, as "kaali kaali ankhen" blared on. Finally he stood up and started walking towards us. There was confusion, commotion, CHAOS! Security restrained people, asked SRK to stay put, waves of people charged forward and us? We danced! And Then. There was Shah Rukh, in front of us, on the dance floor, as waves of people rose and fell around him. He rocked with us, until the crazed fans enveloped the stage and security had to lead him away. But those few moments when we danced for him and then with him, justified EVERYTHING.
It was incredible to share our passion with him, and see him affected by our zest for dance. We were told that it was highly unlikely for him to join us on the dance floor, due to his injured shoulder; but there he was, doing “Dard-e-disco” right in the center.
It was an incredible first performance for our company. We can never forget how despite protests by the security, and the mob of fans, SRK couldn’t help joining us on stage. What greater compliment can there be?
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