Full spin

How many of us stay back after a movie's finished and wait for the credits to roll on? Not too many.

Meet the lady who8217;s got a host of Indian cricketers on her beck and call!

How many of us stay back after a movie8217;s finished and wait for the credits to roll on? Not too many. On the other hand, if you had stayed put for all of director Priyadarshan8217;s films, you would have seen that apart from his, one more name repeats itself each time. And it8217;s an unusual one at that. The name Pony Verma might not yet ring a bell, given the fact that when it comes to choreographers in Bollywood one8217;s more accustomed to hearing names like Saroj Khan, Farah Khan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Shiamak Davar and the likes. But that8217;s just because Pony8217;s just begun her trot. Before you dismiss her as a new kid on the block, you must hear this. 8220;Priyadarshan gave me my first break with his film Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar that released in the year 2001,8221; tells Verma who has since then done as many as 14 films with the director! 8220;He must like what I do to hire me each time,8221; laughs the choreographer who also has toured the world, performing with mentor and choreographer Ganesh Hegde. 8220;Dance has always been my passion and while I made the most of my performances I wanted to step out of the line and do my own thing,8221; Pony admits. Since then she has to her credit films like 8216;Nayee Padosan8217;, 8216;Joggers8217; Park8217;, 8216;Hulchul8217;, 8216;Garam Masala8217;, 8216;Namastey London8217;, 8216;Dhol8217; to the more recent 8216;Ugly Aur Pagli8217;.

While her kitty boasts of many more, it8217;s her latest assignment that has Pony truly in the spotlight. After all, she has a pack of Indian cricketers at her beck and call! 8220;It8217;s more like they are dancing to my ishaaras,8221; chuckles the 20-something who is the choreographer for the all-new show 8216;Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena8217; on Colors channel that sees cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Vinod Kambli, Nikhil Chopra, Dinesh Karthik shake a leg with a bevy of beauties from television. 8220;The channel approached me saying they have a challenge for me. But then I had made the Great Khali shake a leg so I wondered what could be a bigger task,8221; says Verma who said yes the moment she heard the show8217;s concept and the dishy cricketers she had to tutor. 8220;There were many surprises for me. Like I never knew Sreesanth is such a wonderful dancer but it8217;s Bhajji who truly has the rhythm. Even if he falters with a step it looks good,8221; the choreographer lists out. She also found some with two left feet. 8220;Nikhil Chopra was a little difficult. So was Dinesh Karthik but he has drastically improved with each episode. You know I can make them dance like Hrithik or Shah Rukh but that8217;s only when you can have many retakes like in films. Here we are doing a live event and there8217;s just one take to perform,8221; says Pony.

Speaking of Bollywood, Verma8217;s choreographed SRK for his film Billoo Barber. 8220;Akshay is one of my favourites to work with. Though I have made Shahid dance I am looking for a song with him where I can do much more,8221; she wishes. And if you wish to see her work, watch out for 8216;Chandni Chowk to China8217; that8217;s slated for a January 2009 release.