At the conclusion of a film festival, organised by Osianama on womanhood, a battle to be thyself, wherein the entire festival featured world-films directed by women directors, noted choreographer-director Farah a khan was invited for a master class on Cinematic Choreography in a Indian Cinema. Farah was her usual self i.e. Witty and happy go lucky attitude. Her one liners kept the attendees in good humour and the entire class was full of exuberance.
A student of psychology at St. Xavier’s college in Mumbai Farah was never trained for dancing. She attributes this to her excruciatingly troubled childhood which witnessed ‘riches to rags’ state. Her mother, sister of then famous child-stars Daisy and Honey Irani, raised both the siblings single-handedly. ‘We were poor cousins of Zoya and Farhan’ (Her cousins, children of Honey Irani and Javed Akhtar). Since surrounded by a lot of, almost all, film people she always wanted to do films, as a director. But given the young age she, after college, started assisting Mansoor Khan for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sihander. After watching Michael Jackson’s Thriller she got interested in dancing (she was the only dancer those days who could do ‘break-dance’) and soon was choreographing Ads, Stage shows etc. ‘I became film choreographer by default. During Quyamat Se Quyamat Tak, after pack-up I used to take the lead pair to the hotel’s terrace and make them do my steps as I was not very impressed with the film’s choreographer’s moves. The director was aware of this and when the same choreographer (Farah avoided naming her) showed inability to report to shoot-location I was asked to do a song. And ‘Pehla Nasha’ happened. Maybe the freshness, newness of high-speed filming got accolades and appealed the audiences and there’s been no looking back.’
Though motherhood has mellowed her down she yearns to get back her aggressive spark. Recently when she was going to Jodhpur for a song-shoot her son was reluctant to let her go. She told him ‘Beta, your mother is going to shout at Jackie Chan!’ and he relented. That’s Farah Khan, full of life and fun and a person finding humour in any and every situation.