Choreographer Hanif Hilal is not a happy man. He has been dropped from Sony Entertainment Television's reality show, Jhalak Dhikhhla Jaa, as his partner Gauhar Khan opted for another choreographer.
The story goes that Hanif injured his leg while on the show. Sources say that Gauhar was given an option by the one of the show's judges to either continue with Hanif or take another choreographer. She opted for the latter.
"On Thursday night, my leg got dislocated during the rehearsals. I ignored it because there was no swelling," Hilal says. "When I met my doctor, he advised bed rest. He said I should get a surgery done if I want to continue in the show. It would have been unprofessional to back out at the last minute so I performed anyway."
Hanif is very unhappy with the turn of events. "This show is about celebrities, not their choreographers. She may be a supermodel but I am confident of myself. I have given 100 percent to whatever I have done on Jhalak. But whatever happens, it's for the good. I'm just feeling sad because I cannot dance here, which means I will not be able to showcase my talent.
"My injury finally gave Gauhar what she has always wanted. I don't want to teach her anymore; she has been a cry baby from day one and was never happy. Now, I feel there is no point in teaching someone who doesn't appreciate your work. It was a blessing in disguise that I am injured. I don't have any grudge against her but I don't want her to be my partner either.
"All my choreographer friends are sad about this. I've never been friends with Gauhar; we shared a professional relation. There has been no interaction between us after what happened on the sets," he says.
Hanif will undergo an operation after a couple of weeks. He hopes to come back on the show but with a different dance partner.
When contacted, Gauhar said, "Hanif injured himself and this is the only reason he has opted out of the show. The judges asked me if I wanted a new dancer or to continue with Hanif. I didn't want to take advantage of Hanif's injury so I requested the channel for another choreographer. To win a show, anyone would demand for a fit dancer. That's what I'm doing. I cannot speak about my new choreographer now."
