Dancing his way to glory

Actor Jaaved Jafferi shares the success formula of his show Boogie Woogie with Ritujaay Ghosh.

He first showed his dancing skills in his debut film, Meri Jung, way back in 1985. It didn’t matter that Jaaved Jafferi was playing a negative character in the film. All one remembers are his remarkable moves on the dance floor.

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So, it comes as no surprise really that 20 years later Jafferi —son of the actor-comedian Jagdish — prefers being called a dancer rather than an actor (though he has had success dabbling in both). What has him even more thrilled is that his dance show Boogie Woogie — arguably the first talent hunt show on Indian television — completes 10 years this week.

The show — which has slots for children as well as adults with a knack for dancing — became a rage of sorts soon after it began, inviting various clones on and off television.

“As a conceptualiser and a judge of the show I feel that it’s just the beginning. Boogie Woogie has come a long way over the years and produced innumerable dancers,” says Jafferi from the sets of Sony Entertainment Television where he is busy shooting for the show (they have a kids special on for the anniversary).

Boggie Woogie — which resembles an amateur dance competition — did not follow any international format and Jafferi considers this as one of the prime reasons for it running successfully till date. Jafferi now plans to give the show a new look and feel by taking it to the international arena. The other two judges, Ravi Behl and Naved Jaffrey, have been a constant support, says Jafferi.

“There are now many more dance talent hunt shows but the craze for Boogie Woogie is no less than what it used to be,” he says. “We have recently shot with Apache Indian and will now involve more international celebrities. The show will also travel all over the world,” he says about his plans. To keep in pace with competitors, doesn’t Jafferi feel that more glamour could have worked wonders for the show?

“We started as a dance show and were never in the TRP game but the audience liked what we offered and they made it popular."

"Unlike singers from other talent hunt shows who are yet to find a place in the industry my satisfaction is that this show has produced many choreographers and assistant choreographers who are settled in their profession,” says Jafferi.

While they sometimes have celebrity guests, two concepts that the makers of the show refuse to introduce are public voting and skimpily dressed female anchors. So far, it’s worked fine.