Vaibhavi Merchant

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Contents 1 Career 2 Awards 3 Filmography (as choreographer) 4 References 5 External links

Vaibhabhi Merchant (born 1976^[1]) is a well-known Bollywood dance choreographer, the granddaughter of pioneering choreographer Shri Hiralal Merchant.^[1]

Her interest in choreography met with resistance from her family:^[1]

I was a very protected child. Even if I had to walk from here to there [just a few metres,] I would have had to take a servant with me. Girls were looked after like that. Getting into the film industry and being a choreographer? I think going to the moon would have been far easier...it was a very male-dominated profession.

[edit] Career

She began her career by assisting her uncle Chinni Prakash. She had her acting debut in the Malayalam film Snehapoorvam Anna, but returned to her roots as choreographer.

Her first solo work was the choreography for the song "Dhol Baaje" for the hit film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She won a National Film Award for her work. She took a short break from the industry and then returned with a bang in the form of the song "'O Ri Chhori'" from the Oscar-nominated Lagaan in 2001.

She continued to choreograph selected numbers in prominent films such as Devdas, Baghban, Fida, Dhoom, and Veer Zaara. She also choreographed the Australian musical The Merchants of Bollywood, a musical written by Toby Gough about her family.^[1].

She also choreographed one of the most popular song of 2005, "Kajra Re" from Bunty aur Babli, winning several awards for her choreography for the song.

[edit] Awards

For "Kajra Re" in Bunty Aur Babli:

• IIFA Best Choreography Award
• Zee Best Choreography Award
• Star Screen Best Choreography Award
• Apsara Best Choreography Award

For "Dhol Baaje" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam:

• National Film Award for Best Choreography

[edit] Filmography (as choreographer)

Merchant has done choreography for over 100 films as of 2005^[1], including:

Aaja Nachle(2007) Heyy Babyy (2007) Marigold (2007) Dhoom 2 (2006) Chamki Chameli Baabul (2006) Umrao Jaan (2006) Krrish (2006) Fanaa (2006) Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai (2006) Rang De Basanti (2006) Shikhar (2005) Neal n' Nikki (2005) Shaadi No. 1 (2005) Athadu (2005) Ramji Londonwaley (2005) No Entry (2005) Bunty Aur Babli (2005) Chehraa (2005) Balu ABCDEFG (2005) Dil Maange More (2004) Swades (2004) Veer Zaara (2004) Tumsa Nahin Dekha (2004) Madhoshi (2004) Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004) Rakht (2004) Dhoom (2004)

Fida (2004) Kyun! Ho Gaya Na (2004) Garv - Pride And Honour (2004) Lakshya (2004) Shaadi Ka Laddoo (2004) Meenaxi (2004) Rudraksh (2004) Aetbaar (2004) Baghban (2003) Kuch Naa Kaho (2003) Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (2003) Haasil (2003) Kaash Aap Hamare Hote (2003) Dum (2003) Dil Ka Rishta (2003) Guru Mahaaguru (2002) Karz - The Burden Of Truth (2002) Deewangee (2002) Devdas (2002) Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) Filhaal (2002) Lagaan (2001) Albela (2001) Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Making the right moves for Bollywood, an October 2005 article from The Age

[edit] External links

• Vaibhavi Merchant at the Internet Movie Database