'Passion is the most important thing for me'

You are back on television.

Yes, I have always enjoyed working on this medium and I am really excited to be back on television. I hope the show will be liked by everyone. It’s a different format altogether and that makes it an interesting show.

Your film Happy New Year too revolves around dance.

Oh yes, and that makes it even more exciting. I have been dancing a lot for this film and now I am back judging a dance reality show, so there isn’t a single day in my life now that I am spending without dance.

Is this one of the strategies that you have adopted to promote the film before its release.

Marketing and promotion of a film before its release is certainly very important. The film revolves around dancing and that was certainly one of the biggest reasons we thought of doing something revolving around dancing. At the same time the show’s format is really interesting where the contestants won’t always be under the constant pressure of winning. It’s all about enjoying dancing. Happy New Year too is about enjoying dancing.

So, do you enjoy dancing?

Oh certainly I have always enjoyed dancing. I feel very happy whenever I dance. You can ask Farah. She has seen me dance. I always let my self loose whenever I have to dance in a film. In fact, long ago when I was a newcomer and was working on Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Farah told me to dance freely and enjoy to the hilt. Since then I have always danced with all my heart and have always felt happy about it. I never forgot Farah’s advice because it helped me grow as an actor and a dancer.

Tell us about the format of the show.

As I said the format is really interesting and it’s a show the contestants will enjoy. It is happy dancing. It is India’s first multi-city dance tour that will look for the happiest dancer. There will be a bus called the Happy Dancing Bus, that will tour different city and will audition and shortlist dancers from across the length and breadth of the country. It’s really going to be fun because the contestants will be able to dance freely and will feel happy after dancing in front of us.

On what parameters will you judge the contestants?

Oh, I am a really emotional person and very soft hearted person. I am not at all a strict judge. I don’t know on what parameters I will be judging them. I have always believed that whatever you do should be done with passion. If I see a contestant coming on to the stage and dancing with passion, I will give him or her full marks. Passion is the most important thing for me and I won’t even see into the technicalities of dancing. That’s how I am.

You will also be seen in Yash Raj’s Fan.

Yes, and I am also excited about the film because it’s a big project. It is a very challenging film… something that I haven’t done in a long time. I have tried to do justice to the project. It is a very interesting story about a big fan of a film star. It’s the story of the biggest ever fan.

The film has two actresses but none of the names have been revealed.

Actually the film revolves around the fan, played by me. The story doesn’t really require a big leading lady. So, that probably is the reason, the names haven’t been revealed yet.

You will also be seen in Rahul Dholakia’s Raees.

That’s again a big film and something that I haven’t tried earlier. It’s a very ambitious project and I am really hopeful about it. I will also be doing Rohit Shetty’s next, which is yet another exciting project.

After the Indian Premiere League and the Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League will make its debut. Will you be watching it?

Of course I am really thrilled about the entire thing. I am looking forward to it. It can prove to be a big league for Indian football and take the country to places.

Given that you own Kolkata Knight Riders, will you be rooting for Atletico de Kolkata?

I have always said that Kolkata is my second home and KKR is my family. I will of course be rooting for the home team and won’t mind breaking into a jig if they win.