'I always wanted to be famous and respected'

He started his journey as a contestant on the first season of dance reality show Dance India Dance (DID), which he eventually won, and is currently a participant in the ongoing season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (JDJ). So has life come full circle for choreographer Salman Yusuff Khan?

“It is yet to... it will, the day I get to judge a show,” he laughs.
“Each year has been great. Success gives you a high, and over the years I have become more confident. I had no godfather, so sustaining myself has been a task. Though it’s been a nice journey until now, there is still a long way to go,” Khan, who has previously participated in JDJ as a choreographer, tells Metrolife.

Talking about his journey, the artiste who has also worked in choreographer Remo D’Souza’s ABCD: Any Body Can Dance says that while such shows help identify talent, they sometimes leave the contestants disillusioned.

“Yes, I earned some prize money when I won the show, but all of us (co-contestants) were equally famous. Over time, some of them went into depression because even though we were known faces, there was no money. And then you have that feeling that
‘I cannot go behind a star and dance’. That is when you have to start from scratch. The channels don’t bother, it’s your journey,” he says.

He adds that “being famous is one thing, but to be able to sustain that is a different ball game altogether”.

According to the artiste, one needs sheer will power and perseverance to be able to be successful.

However, on being asked if he always wanted to be a dancer, Khan, who has studied mechanical engineering says, “I am not sure”, but adds that all that he ever wanted was to “be famous and respected”.

“And, even though dance defines me, I will not restrict myself to doing just one thing. If Farhan Akhtar can act, sing and dance, so can I,” he signs off.