'Dance has always been my passion'Veteran actor Asha Parekh comes back to television, this time as a judgeShe's worn many a hat before, but this is a brand-new one. After a long sabbatical, veteran actor Asha Parekh is on screen again. This time on the all-new channel 9X that sees Parekh step into the shoes of a judge on the show 'Tyohaar Dhamaaka'. "The concept appealed to me instantly and I didn't take too long to say yes," mentions Parekh, speaking to us from Mumbai where she's currently shooting. Here, she's referred to as 'Mahaguru'. "Television has changed so much over the years and when I heard they were putting together a show that would showcase major festivals of India along with Indian classical dance forms, I was impressed," mentions the Bollywood queen of the '60s, revered for her dancing skills. Interestingly, while she's directed many soaps for television, not many are aware that she runs a dance academy back home. "Yes, it's nice to work with young people. There's so much talent in the country and equally large number of reality talent shows on television. It's a great way for aspirants to make a mark," tells Parekh, who is to date best remembered for her directorial venture Kora Kaagaz, a weekly that ran to a full house on Star Plus. "And that was much before the daily sagas of today. Even I had a saas and a bahu in my script but the treatment was so different," the director makes her point. On why she decided to take a break, the answer's equally blunt. "There's a time for everything. Kora Kaagaz had a beginning and an end. As for me, I wanted to give direction a break," says the former Censor Board Chairman who is taking her time to get behind the camera once again. "Whenever I do, I will tell a woman's story again," she puts across firmly.But before that she's happy to be sitting in the judge's seat. "Dance has been my passion. I am so glad that I will get to see traditional dances on television and performances by some of the best actors of TV today," she sums up. As for the show, produced by SOL Productions, it will pit TV stars in teams from four zones. The four teams will compete on different festive themes, and the best team will be crowned by Parekh. While Parekh is the judge, the show is hosted by actor-dancer Sudha Chandran. 'Tyohaar Dhamaaka' will air Mondays to Thursdays at 8.30 pm.
