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In Delhi, have kabab

Ace dancer Shiamak Davar on food, fitness and more

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NOW POSING, NOW WALTZING Shiamak Davar at the Oberoi hotel in New Delhi

You don't have to wrack your brains to guess this. An ace dancer, Shiamak Davar will certainly be a fitness freak. And with food having a direct association with fitness, you know how finicky he might get at the table. Still, you take a chance. Who knows, the Buddha might smile today!

In a red and white tracksuit and snow-white keds, flaunting a pair of stylish glares, with minions shuffling behind him, Shiamak is at once an attraction at Three Sixty, the swanky restaurant at New Delhi's Oberoi hotel.

`Shiamak Davar... .', the whisper travels, fast. Heads turn. Seems like he has noticed it, but having lived the life of a celebrity for some time now, he must be used to it.

Soon you find yourself sitting across the table selected by Shiamak, "because of the good view". He flashes a toothy smile at once but you find him quite restless. Flying into the city from Mumbai just an hour ago, he has a press meet to attend, a few associates to catch up with, a visit to make to his dance school before taking the flight back by sundown.

Then we better hurry!

Having found his background, the photographer requests a snap. He initially agrees, but finally refuses. "The background is that of a bar, I don't promote alcohol. Many children come to my dance schools, I don't want them to get a wrong message," he says. You quickly steer him to the buffet area. Happily, he poses alongside the array of food, fills a plate, and walks back to the table. Quite a new restaurant, Three Sixty has a minimalist look, serves world cuisine, has a sushi station, a yakitori grill, a wood fired oven for Mediterranean food and a tandoor too. But the food on Shiamak's plate is largely Indian, a paneer dish, a rice preparation with peas, some grilled chicken, and a bit of salad.

With food being the prime focus of conversation, and time ticking by, Shiamak wastes no time.

"I like the food in Delhi, particularly in Paharganj." The food is so oily there, you point out, your pre-conceived notions about Shiamak the fitness freak working overtime now. But he has an answer, "Eat less but enjoy it." That he advocates living for one's mind is evident soon.

"I have dance students from age 4 to 74. I tell them, you can dance at any age if you do it for a happy mind. The line for my institute is, `Have feet, will dance.'," says Shiamak. "But dance needs strict discipline, you have to be fit. The spiritual part of dancing is very important in all instruction," he adds.

Kababs

The conversation swerves back to Paharganj. He says the place reminds him of more things related to good food. "I have an aunt there, Mona Kapoor. I think she makes the best kababs," he says. Ask him for his favourite food and he names a Japanese gravy dish, akachan. Also, he tries his hand at a few Thai dishes, he says, even as he takes a measured bite from the fare before him.

Besides his dance events, Shiamak has two big movies to talk about. "I am working for Dhoom 2 and then there is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya." Making Hrithik dance for Dhoom 2 has been a great experience, he shares. "He is the best dancer in Bollywood. This time, you will see him trying out a lot of new steps," he adds.

Though he has choreographed songs for many films now, his work in Kisna was most satisfactory.

"Sad, nobody saw it," he says.

Yet another project that will demand his time is Super Stars, a talent hunt on SaharaOne. Shiamak and Urmila Matondkar are the judges for the Indianised version of the international tele-show which requires contestants to compete by copying their favourite actors. Also, Shiamak is coming out with a music album soon. Any more acting? "Not again, because I can't speak Hindi."

Checking the time, he seeks your leave. You look at the unfinished food. He merely nibbled at it, you point out. "Not quite up to it today," he smiles, leaving you thinking, you can bring a fitness freak to a table but you can't make him eat!

SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY

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