Actress and dancer Malaika Arora revisited one of her most iconic performances by recreating the magic of Chaiyya Chaiyya at a recent event, once again showcasing the signature dance moves that made the song a memorable part of Hindi cinema.
Malaika shared a video from the performance on Instagram with the caption, “Some thing’s never get old #ChaiyyaChaiyya #MalaikaArora #Iconic #Evergreen.”
The video begins with Malaika in a makeup room while her hair and makeup are being done. She then steps out for a performance to Chaiyya Chaiyya, dancing alongside television actor Aman Verma.
Dressed in a colourful multihued outfit, Malaika performed the song’s popular hook steps, recreating the energy associated with the original number.
Chaiyya Chaiyya featured in the 1998 Hindi film Dil Se. Composed by A.R. Rahman, the song was penned by Gulzar and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora featured in the song, which went on to become one of the most recognised dance numbers in Hindi cinema.
Malaika’s performance in particular became widely popular and helped establish the song as a lasting part of popular culture.
The story of how she was selected for the song was earlier recalled by choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan during an appearance on the chat show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai.
Farah revealed that the makers had approached several people but had not finalised anyone even a week before the scheduled shoot. She said she already knew Malaika and eventually called her to consider her for the song.
“We actually tried for a lot of people. We had no one even one week before the song was supposed to be shot,” Farah said.
The Main Hoon Na filmmaker also recalled that she was unsure whether Malaika could dance but believed her appearance suited the song.
“I did not even know if she could dance. But I knew that her look was right. She looks beautiful,” Farah said.
Decades after its release, Chaiyya Chaiyya continues to remain closely associated with Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora, with the song’s choreography and music retaining their popularity among audiences.
