Shilpa Shetty: Will reject Viaan if he auditions, he isn't as talented

Shilpa Shetty confesses that she cannot match steps with the children she is judging in the second season of Super Dancer. Son Viaan too would falter before them, should he decide to give a shot at the title, she says.

Shilpa Shetty

"He isn't as well versed with the form as the participants are," Shetty reasons. In a conversation with mid-day, the actor talks about the talent that makes her question her "worth" as mentor, and how the judges' panel, also comprising Geeta Kapoor and Anurag Basu, arrive at testing decisions during the show.

Excerpts from the interview:

Tell us about the talent that the show is witnessing on season 2.
It is unbelievable. Sometimes, I wonder if I am worthy of being on the judges' panel, because, a judge should be able to do things better than the participants, right? I will take a hundred years to reach their level.

What do you do when you have to make a tough judgment between two participants at par?
That is where our [judges] background comes into play. We judge the kids on different parameters. Geeta analyses things as a choreographer. I do it as an actor, while Anurag looks out for the creative elements. We all have a role to play. A child may be technically superior, but, I may reject him/her if I don't see charisma. Also, we are stricter with the kids this season.

How is season 2 different from the first instalment?
Why change something that is working well? Things are not rehearsed on our set, and people like that. Last season, I was angry with the director for including the judges' gibberish banter in the final cut. But, people seemed to have enjoyed it. They were laughing at our expense.

What emotional space does this show occupy in your life?
Being here is like being with my family. The unit was mindful of my state when I shot for the show following my father's death last year. Being on the set took away some of the pain.

If your son Viaan wanted to join a reality show, would you support him?
He watches the show and was allowed to come on set one time because he insisted. I don't like to expose kids too much. I was brought up in a middle-class household. I didn't have that exposure. When a child is given the spotlight too soon, s/he grows up with the perception of being privileged. I don't want Viaan to feel that way. I try to inculcate values I grew up with, because I don't want him to grow up with a misguided sense of entitlement.

What if he wants to audition for your show?
As long as I have the control, I won't permit him to do it. He isn't as talented as these children. He has rhythm, and is fabulous at gymnastics, but he will need to practice harder if he wants to dance. But he doesn't have the time. He does gymnastics and yoga; let him learn those forms first. Also, these kids have been training since the age of three. If he auditions, I will reject him.