An actor's journey

in conversation

Salman Yusuff Khan is a name that is synonymous with dance. This young choreographer, who was born in Bangalore and has an engineering degree, is much more than just that.

He talks of his journey from a “humble Muslim household” to being a celebrity. His tryst with dance started in his college days as a tool to de-stress. “I started learning different dance forms and while it was a great way to handle stress, I know now that girls like boys who dance,” he laughs.

Dance naturally became a serious part of his life. “I don’t know when my hobby became my passion and I did not even tell my parents that I had auditioned for Dance India Dance. I had given up dance three months before the show, as my family had in fact asked me to get serious about studies.

When I got a call saying I was selected, I was actually skeptical of joining the show. I had to be in Mumbai when I had my engineering exams. The night before, I could not sleep because I felt that if I did not try participating, I would regret it for the rest of my life.” What followed was cajoling his mother to sponsor his flight to Mumbai, and the rest, as it is said, is history. Winning the show was the icing on the cake and changed the course of Salman’s life forever.

However, the journey wasn’t that easy. “There was no one to guide me after I won the show, so I was out of work for almost six months. It was then that I started assisting Remo D’Souza (noted choreographer and director). I learnt everything about the filmmaking process as an assistant director.”

He later took up choreography as a challenge and accepted the task of showcasing his dancing skills in the reality show Jhalak Dhikla Jaa Season 4 with Yana Gupta. Salman’s consistency, love for the stage, and passion for mentoring others made him an obvious choice to return in Season 5 as the choreographer of Isha Sharvani, and is currently working with Drashti Dhami in Season 6 of the show.

His fearlessness and dedication to step outside his comfort zone to continue his growth as an artiste was soon tested when he joined the cast as the lead male opposite Lauren Gottlieb alongside Prabhudheva, Kay Kay Menon and Ganesh Acharya in India’s first ever 3D dance film ABCD — Any Body Can Dance, directed by Remo D’Souza. “In fact, I received several offers to do television shows, which I did not take them up since I was not sure of my acting abilities then. But since the offers were continuing, I guessed they had seen my potential and so I enrolled in theatre workshops to groom myself as an actor.”

Salman has currently finished shooting for his next film Freedom, which is expected to release soon. “I got my second movie offer even before ABCD released, and it is a completely character-oriented role. It is also a role that is unlike ABCD and the opposite of how I’m in real life, so I’m really excited.”

And what next for this budding actor? “I’m currently reading a script but it is too early to comment about it. I’m looking forward to do challenging roles in the future. I know God has a plan for me and he will lead me to it. I wake up every day and say to myself that I will work hard and keep my options open.” Salman says he is inspired by Farhan Akhtar and aspires to work as a dancer, choreographer and director.