New Delhi: Choreographer turned director Ahmed Khan talks about Rangeela, which turns 30 today. The film was a breakthrough when it came to music and choreography. Ahmed Khan was just an assistant to Saroj Khan when Rangeela happened to him. He said, “I was just 20 when I got my break and the change in choreography in film standards and winning the awards for me, it was kind of hitting a six on the first ball.”
Ahmed also informs us how he replaced Saroj Khan and was not aware of Ram Gopal Varma’s modus operandi to get him on board as a choreographer for Rangeela. He said, “Saroj Khan was doing the choreography, I was assisting Saroj Khan. Ram Gopaal Varma saw me the way I used to move, he would tell her to send me as her clash. I didn’t know that he had a motive behind it of course positive motive towards me. After a few days of shoot, he offered me the film so I asked Sarojji she also told me mujhe bhi samajh mein nahin aa rahi hai gaane.. Tu kar le. ‘The songs became a hit and life set ho gayi meri.”
There were a lot of breakthroughs too and when it came to heroine also. He said, “ It was a breakthrough for a heroine also, and before Urmila it was Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. Also along with the glamour breaththrough it was the first hindi score of Rahman too.”
Ahmed recalls that Aamir Khan was little shocked to see him take over as choreographer of Rangeela. He informs, “Aamir was in a, little shock Although Aamir knew me I had worked with him as a child actor. He asked what happened so Ramu said I wanted something new and Ahmed will be perfect and Aamir didn’t say a word. After that he was with me completely. Big support from Aamir and Jackie Shroff when I was working they knew that I know my job and they were getting results.”
Of course the first time choreographer had faced challenges while doing his job and talks about how he overcame it. Ahmed said, “Ram Gopal Varma wanted VFX in the title song ‘Yayi Re Yayi Dhoom Macha Ke’. I told him how can VFX and dance go together and i told him I will do a set piece and when he saw that he got convinced and said“ i don’t want do any VFX now. Yaayi re… Ramu wanted some VFX in the title song I said how can VFX and dance go hand in hand. I said I will do a set piece and when he saw it he said I don’t want to. Do any VFX.”
He continued that even ‘Mangta Hai Kya’ was tough for me to crack and I didn’t what do to with it and Ram Gopal Varma and Rahman felt it was phonetically sounding good and then to get it right was not easy. Last but not the least the spirit of Rangeela song where Jackie sees Urmila for the first time was shot thrice as my choreography was all over the first time, the second time we felt we didn’t shoot it well and third time we shot and got it bang on.. But feel Rangeela was life changing for me at 20 to win an award and 10 films offers after the release I never looked back.”