Shilpa Shetty: My songs always became superhits

Shilpa Shetty Kundra

Pull off a difficult dance routine, and Shilpa Shetty Kundra will be the first to cheer you on while enthusiastically describing the performance with her catchphrase, "Super se bhi upar!" As she awaits the release of Hungama 2 and Nikamma after over a decade of being away from the silver screen, Shetty has reprised her role of a judge on the kids' reality show, Super Dancer 4. She shares the dias with filmmaker Anurag Basu and choreographer Geeta Kapoor.

"I am synonymous with dance. It makes sense to be associated with such [shows]. My films may or may not have done well, but my songs always became huge hits," says the actor, who is best remembered for her moves in chartbusters Main aayi hoon UP Bihar lootne, Shut up and bounce, and Chura ke dil mera.

Dostana

Shetty has been part of Super Dancer since 2016. Before this, she displayed her mastery over dance as a judge on Nach Baliye and Zara Nachke Dikha. She says it's mind-boggling to see the children showcase their moves. "They are better than grown-ups. I am amazed by their ingenuity and talent. They contort their bodies as if they are made of rubber."

Reality shows have their share of drama and tears, but the actor-judge insists there is nothing contrived. "We add fun elements like shair-o-shayari as appreciation for their talent. I feel like a mother to the participants, and the emotions we see are real. I burst out crying on seeing a cobbler's son perform a contemporary dance. It was heartening to see how he had overcome the odds."

Shilpa Shetty in songs from Shool

One of the finest dancers in showbiz, Shetty quips that at home, she has stiff competition in husband Raj Kundra who "has killer moves on the dance floor". She jokes that when she saw him perform at Harman Baweja's wedding festivities recently, she told him not to steal her thunder. What about son Viaan? "He is a gymnast and likes dancing, but he tells me, ‘No matter what I do, my performance will always be super se bahut neeche for you,'" she laughs.