10/10 If You Can Guess Who Convinced Shiamak Davar To Work On Shah Rukh Khan's Dil To Pagal Hai

Some 25 years ago, Dil Toh Pagal Hai hit the silver screens, becoming an iconic Bollywood gem thanks to its stellar cast featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karishma Kapoor. What truly captured the attention of audiences were its unforgettable electrifying dance numbers. From Karishma’s bold moves in Le Gayi to Shah Rukh and Madhuri’s mesmerising chemistry in Koi Ladki Hai, the film left an indelible mark on Bollywood’s landscape. Behind these iconic performances, the credit goes to renowned choreographer Shiamak Davar. But what many may not know is that it was persuasive insistence of Shah Rukh and director Yash Chopra that led to Shiamak’s inclusion as the choreographer for the film, turning ordinary steps to legendary dance routines.

In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Shiamak shared the story behind his involvement in the film. It all began when Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh’s wife and Shiamak’s student at that time, called him out of the blue, saying the superstar wanted to meet him. Hearing this, Shiamak was taken aback and exclaimed, “What?” He then recounted how Shah Rukh invited him to dinner and revealed his plans for Dil Toh Pagal Hai, expressing his desire for Shiamak to choreograph it.

Shiamak, surprised, responded with, “Are you mad?” He expressed that his dance style, which leaned heavily towards the Western, might not resonate well with audiences and could potentially lead to film’s failure. However, the actor remained adamant, insisting, “No, I want it, I don’t care.” He even mentioned that Yash uncle (Yash Chopra) suggested that they can even use Shiamak’s own dancers for the film.

In conclusion, Shiamak shared “It was Shah Rukh’s forcing and Yash uncle’s mad love for me because I would have never done it because my journey was so difficult just to be recognised as a dancer forget choreographer and singer.”

Sharing the video on Instagram, Shiamak wrote, “Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan’s role in my journey to choreograph Dil To Pagal Hai is a story worth sharing.”

Watch the video here:

For his outstanding performance, Shiamak was honoured with the prestigious National Film Award for his work in Dil To Pagal Hai. The award was presented by the Honorable Former President of India, K.R. Narayanan. The movie was a turning point in Davar’s illustrious career, fueling his remarkable journey in choreography. He continued to deliver hit dance sequences for numerous movies like Taal, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Jagga Jasoos, Bunty Aur Babli 2 and Dhoom 2, among others.