When Remo D’Souza was planning Anybody can dance 2 ( ABCD 2 ), he knew how his characters would be, “So I had no problem deciding my cast,” he says. Dancer/actor/choreographer/director Prabhu Deva was the awe factor for Remo’s lead actors and they worried about keeping up with the ‘God of dance.’
Remo is still in awe; his eyes brighten up at the thought of choreographing steps for ‘Prabhu Sir’. Shraddha Kapoor behaves like a star-struck kid the moment she hears ‘Prabhu Sir’ compliment her dance moves and Varun Dhawan says, “I could only think of learning from him.”
In response, the shy Prabhu Deva only had to say, “No, they are joking. I was learning just like everyone. I liked the way the dancers taught me.” Shraddha quips in and adds, “Each time our steps were given, Prabhu sir would go, ‘difficult ya’ and then in less than three minutes he would have perfected the steps while we go back to look at him in awe.”
Varun admits that he’s excited to do movie centred around dance. “And what standard of choreography! We have learnt a big deal and for the team, it was like one big picnic all throughout. Personally, I have evolved over the years through the roles ranging from college student, lover boy to a revenge-seeking character.But I love comedy and playing the boy-next-door oozing romance isn’t the easiest part of acting.”
Has comedy got passed on as legacy from his father David Dhawan? He agrees, “It is in the genes. I grew up with comedy in the home productions but personally I love Jim Carey as much.”
When asked about his favourite co-stars, he is quick to respond: “All of them. I would want to act with Shraddha once more. It was fun and she makes for a fabulous co-star.”
Shraddha takes it as a compliment and says she was also very flattered when Prabhu Deva would signal to her and say ‘my eyes are on you, you are a competitor.’ “Imagine Prabhu sir saying that! It is humbling but I can’t stop gushing about it,” says Shraddha.
The story of ABCD 2 traces the journey of an Indian dance troupe, a motley assortment of boys and girls who come from the backstreet’s of a Mumbai suburb; their rise to fame, sudden downfall and then their heroic attempt to seek vindication by regaining their lost glory and pride. ABCD 2 is a grand 3D Dance Film which travels to the vibrant city of Las Vegas and is a bittersweet journey of love, friendship, betrayal, honour and redemption.
To match up to Remo’s dancers, Varun and Sharddha had to undergo intense training for three months. “I asked Varun not bulk up. Because a dancer has to have the lean look, yet when he removes his shirt he should have the killer physique. Shraddha on the other hand needed to have a very strong core and look one among the dancers. My trainer trained her and she was an obedient student,” says Remo.
The film is slated for June 26 release.
