Exclusive: Shakti Mohan: I’ve always loved being a contestant more than a judge

Shakti Mohan along with her team Remo Drsquosouza Punit Pathak Salman Yusuff Khan and Raghav Juyal are back with the dance reality show Dance season 6 This time around the show will be launched on DisneyHotstar before television Shakti tells us all about returning to the show bidding goodbye to acting and turning aunt to nephew AryaveerWhat is it that makes you keep coming back to Dance PlusIrsquove been a part of the show since season one and I feel itrsquos the best dance show that ever existed Itrsquos like working with family and the talent we get to see is phenomenal I believe the show is completely path breakingYou have been associated with the team Remo Drsquosouza Punit Salman and Raghav since the beginning of your careerhellipWe all started our journeys from the same stage same show and now we are working together again We know each other really well close friends who are associated professionally Remo sir is our father figure and guide so it feels like a picnic every day dancing singing and enjoying with the team The show feels like a joyride to meHaving been the winner of a dance reality show yourself how does it feel to watch the contestantsrsquo journey as a judge nowI still remember the days where I was auditioning Punit and I started our journey together since we were in the same college and dance school I know that feeling of standing for hours in the line to audition then performing and waiting to hear if you are selected or not When I see these new kids performing and they happen to make mistakes at times I completely relate to that Irsquove always loved being a contestant more than being on the other side of the table because I still see myself as a performer Itrsquos a great responsibility that the channel and production house has put on me but in my heart Irsquom a performerBuzz about your movie debut opposite Salman Yusuff Khan to be directed by Remo Drsquosouza has been doing the rounds for a while nowhellipI acted in Dil Dosti Dance for channel V but after that I wasnrsquot interested in acting I like to dance and choreograph and Irsquom passionate about running my dance school Nrityashakti Unfortunately the movie with Remo sir could not take off I could not be part of the project because of my fatherrsquos healthYour show with your sister Mukti Mohan Dance with me has also come up with a new season tell us about thatYes and Irsquom happy the second season did wellThe OTT space has taken over by leaps and bounds hellipOur show connects with the youth and I realize that since the lockdown we havenrsquot been watching TV as much as we are tuned into OTT So it was important for our show to come out on OTT first Itrsquos really exciting that we will have a new episode every dayHow do you take time off for yourself in between the shoot and your other commitmentsIrsquom enjoying it because I was missing work and meeting people during the lockdown The last twothree months were crazy but I would not trade it for anythingYou also recently turned aunt to sister Neeti Mohanrsquos son AryaveerhellipThatrsquos been a blessing we donrsquot call him boy and call him lsquojoyrsquo instead Hersquos brought so much happiness to our family because we have a baby in the family after years My family and Neetirsquos inlaws are all going crazy for him I will be meeting him today evening Even in between shoot I keep looking at his photos I just cant get enough of him