Why Farah Khan refused to judge 'Zara Nachke Dikha'

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan was very keen to judge the upcoming season of STAR Plus' reality show "Zara Nachke Dikha", but she turned it down because its dates clashed with her next directorial venture "Tees Maar Khan".

"I couldn't do 'Zara Nachke Dikha' because they wanted me to shoot from April 3, but that was when I was starting my schedule of 'Tees Maar Khan'. The dates were just not matching and unfortunately I had no option," Farah told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The filmmaker, who has previously helmed two films - "Main Hoon Na" and "Om Shanti Om" - says she would have loved to be on the show, alongside actress Shilpa Shetty on the judging panel.

"I share a very good relationship with STAR. I have done shows like 'Nach Baliye', 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar' and 'Tere Mere Beach Mein' with them and it has always been lovely working with them. I was looking forward to 'Zara Nachke Dikha' as well, but I couldn't do it at the cost of my film," she said.

"Tees Maar Khan" is Farah's first movie without her friend, superstar Shah Rukh Khan. It features Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead. While the shooting will get over in August, Farah does not rule out being a part of another reality show.

"The movie is 50 percent complete. I have the last 10-day schedule in August and I am busy shooting it now. I will be fairly free in May, June and July which is when I can do some other reality shows," she said.

If the grapevine is to be believed, there is a possibility that Farah might be judging Zee TV's "Dance India Dance - Little Masters".

'Say cheese, please': Farah Khan

By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, April 13 -- The unit of Tees Maar Khan has been flying high, literally. During a three-week shoot of the film at Malsej Ghat, a six-seat chopper flew out anyone who was homesick after 'pack-up', and brought them back the next day.

"The production house had a deal with the chopper company and it made travelling to and fro from the city so much more easier for all of us," informs the 'organised' director Farah Khan, who also had a Rs 1 crore custom built train to ferry her filmy passengers around, on screen.

Back and forth

Lead actor Akshay Kumar took the helicopter ride a few times to touch base with wife Twinkle and son Aarav at their Juhu bungalow. But Farah stayed put on location till the end of the schedule and only stepped into the chopper with editor-producer husband Shrish Kunder and her three kids when it was a 'wrap'. Her kids, she says, were quite at home in the sylvan surroundings during the 24-day shoot. "They ran around with the village kids, spots boys and junior artistes, feeding the goats and cows and taking tractor rides," she laughs. In the chopper, her two girls, Anya and Diva, sat like little princesses as if they did this every day. "Their blase attitude made me think of 'superstar'," says the amused mother. Quiz her about her son, Czar, and she says he's turning out to be "quite the lady-killer who seems very comfortable in the company of pretty women". Both Shirish and Farah had wanted their three lucky mascots to make an appearance in their first home production. "I wanted them in the last song and got 'ghagra-cholis' stitched for the girls and a 'dhoti-kurta' and a Gandhi cap for my son. They looked so cute and were so uncooperative," she reminisces. "They were happily dancing around but once the camera started rolling, they just stood there looking supremely bored. No amount of coaxing and cajoling would get a performance out of any of them. I wasted two magazines before I gave up."

Christmas treat

Tees Maar Khan is scheduled to release on December 24. "There's been talk of it being pushed ahead to December 9 because nine is supposedly Akshay and my lucky number but that's not true. If all goes well, it will be your Christmas treat," promises Farah. "It's a perfect vacation film with lavish songs and a happy celebratory feel."