I Consider My Life Like A Dream Shakti Mohan

Abit shy, all about the hard work, daddy’s girl,brave and courageous — this is how ShaktiMohan defines herself. From a contestant to a judge, she has become an inspiration to her legions of fans. When she dances, the world watches in awe and admiration. Mohan, who shot to fame with ‘Dance India Dance’, is a force to be reckoned with. In a candid conversation, she tells us how she became interested in dance and the choices she’s made through her life.

Wedding Affair (WA): How and when did you start becoming involved with dance? Shakti Mohan (SM): I think it all came very naturally. I started following my elder sister Neeti who used to dance on Bollywood songs. As I grew, I fell in love with the art form. There was a time when I had to choose whether I wanted to pursue this as a career, that’s when I had to make a wellthought decision. All this time, my family really supported me as it was not an easy call. There was no stability, no plan as to what I would be doing. I just believed in myself and went for it.

WA: Do you think people’s perception has changed about letting their kids pursue their career in creative fields? SM: Back then, it was much more difficult to even speak of dance and profession together. It didn’t make much sense and only a few people could think of taking it up. Becoming a doctor or engineer is what made sense to people. Dancing doesn’t have that kind of respect even today, but things are surely changing. Nowadays, parents are willing to invest in dance education. They nurture their kids’ dreams and there's nothing more important to me than this.

WA: You were once told by doctors that you would never be able to walk again. Tell us a little about that time. SM: I was four-years-old when I underwent an accident while crossing the road. I broke my leg and back. Doctors and everyone around me said that I was going to be a handicap for life. I think it was a miracle as I was able to fully recover. That time was definitely terrible. It left a big mark on my left ankle and several marks on the rest of the body, which I consider a symbol of strength.