Vaibhavi Merchant: They cheered for Salman Khan, he felt like a rockstar

Believing that Salman Khan’s charisma elevates every song, choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant on how locals lined up to see superstar as they shot Tiger 3’s Leke Prabhu Ka Naam in Turkey

Every time Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif unite on screen, the makers feel the responsibility of upping the ante from their last offering. Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant felt it too, when she was roped in to design Leke Prabhu Ka Naam for Tiger 3. “I have been a part of Ek Tha Tiger [2012], Tiger Zinda Hai [2017], and now Tiger 3. With this song, the intention was to do bigger and better,” begins Merchant. First things first, she wanted a dramatic background. Producer Aditya Chopra and director Maneesh Sharma knew just the place—Cappadocia, known for its rock formations, caves, and hot air balloon rides.

Vaibhavi Merchant 

The dance number, composed by Pritam, was shot over five days in the central Turkish region. After Tiger Zinda Hai’s Swag Se Swagat, the choreographer made the lead couple strap on their dancing shoes again. “I feel when there are two good-looking people together, half the [job is done]. Plus, their chemistry and the ease with which they command the frame draw people. The moment you bring Salman in front of the camera, half the battle is won because he is so good-looking. You can shoot him from any angle, and he’ll look handsome. Katrina is a simple girl who would rather sit in her pyjamas. But when facing the camera, she comes alive. She is very particular about [her look], from her accessories to shoes.”

While Kaif is known for her smooth moves, the real surprise of Leke Prabhu Ka Naam is Khan. The superstar is seen dancing his heart out. Merchant attributes it to the energy on the day of the shoot. “In Cappadocia, we [got an enthusiastic] reception from the locals. They are big fans of Bollywood films, and they all knew Salman Khan. So, when he walked in to see the first rehearsal, they all cheered for him. He felt like a rockstar. That’s why he is looking the way he does in the song.” And what about that hook step? “Hook steps are never conceived with a lot of thinking; it’s an instinct. When we play the song, I start to groove, my assistants follow the move, and we record it. Then I imagine [the lead stars] doing it.”

Tiger 3, which also stars Emraan Hashmi, has been shot in India, Turkey, Russia and Austria.

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