EXCLUSIVE: Farah Khan on completing 25 years - It's high time I direct Tom Cruise now

Farah Khan opens up on her 25-year-long journey in Bollywood.

By Urvi Parikh

Updated on May 23, 2017 | 05:03 PM IST | 322K

Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan is celebrating a silver jubilee in Bollywood. The gorgeous lady made her debut as a choreographer with Aamir Khan's Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar that released in 1992.

Ask Farah how has the journey been and she exclaims, "First of all it doesn't seem long. It feels very short. Which is why I tweeted this is just the interval and the second half is yet to happen. I have to achieve more and make more films. It doesn't feel like 25 years. It feels really short and quick. Of course, it has ups and downs, but mostly ups. And the best is that I called up Mansoor Khan to thank him. And he had no idea. He said thanks for reminding me (laughs)."

Probe her if it has been an overwhelming experience, and Farah admits, "Sometimes you get overwhelmed. It has taken time till I made movies. It does get overwhelming, either the success gets or the failure. But I feel blessed to be still working and doing films. I have done from producing to directing to choreographing to doing TV, literally everything. I haven't stuck to one thing. It has been a full plate."

Given that she has done it all, ask her what's next on her wish list and pat comes the reply, "The only thing I feel I should do is to direct Tom Cruise now! That should be my next aim. It is high time. I waited too long before I could do choreograph Michael Jackson. But he passed away. So now I should set my target on Tom."

Interestingly, the songs that Farah has choreographed, have become cult classics today. Quiz her if she had the slightest idea that when she was choreographing them, they would be best remembered for its music and hook step and she reasons, "No. In fact, 25 years later Pehla Nasha still sounds fresh. At that time you don't think of it like that. You just want to give your best and you want appreciation then and there. You don't think they will be remembered or they will be classics. You just want to make them look good. Classics can't be made. They just happen. When I did Ek Pal Ka Jeena, I never knew that one step from the song will become so iconic. Hrithik, when he retires also, he will be doing that step."

A few months back, Salman Khan had narrated an incident from his life where he had gone to audition for Maine Pyaar Kiya. Farah too was present there. She was so unhappy with his dance that she had walked out of the screen test. When we asked her to describe it, an ecstatic Farah revealed, "Salman was dancing so badly that I thought this director will throw both of us out. He just couldn't do the steps. I said let me go because I was sure he wouldn't get the movie. I was quite surprised he got the film and then I was surprised how he danced well in the movie. That movie was Maine Pyaar Kiya. We still talk about it and laugh about it. He still tells me 'tu bhaag gayi thi'. And not just me even Arbaaz was there and he too ran away from the screen test."

Since Farah began her career as a choreographer, we curiously ask her how did the transition from a choreographer to a director happen. She explains, "I came to be a director only. I was an AD on Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. I became a choreographer by chance. 10 years I waited to get a chance to be a director. To be honest, just when I started Main Hoon Na, I in my mind, had no doubts that it is going to be a hit. I was over confident, the one that you have when you are making the first film. Or maybe I was too young. I would have been surprised if it hadn't been a super-hit. In my mind, I always thought I am making a blockbuster. As time goes, you become more and more worried about your movie. Over the years it is going to be so loved, that I didn't expect."

Does the success of most of her movies add some pressure on her, and Khan replies, "Every film will have a pressure. How many ever hits you give, there is always a pressure. If you have given a flop, then it is more."

What's next on cards, we probe the wonder woman and she discreetly tells us, "I am working on two scripts. I am very excited about it. We shall talk about it soon."