Exclusive! Dance Deewane 3 winner Piyush Gurbhele: I used to sleep on the footpath outside audition venues

Dance Deewane/PR image

Piyush Gurbhele and Rupesh Soni from Nagpur have won ‘Dance Deewane 3' on Colors TV. Judges Madhuri Dixit, Tushar Kalia, Dharmesh Yelande and special guest Mithun Chakraborty gave them a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh and a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso car. Piyush and Rupesh spoke to mid-day.com, about their big win.

What was your immediate reaction after being announced winners?
Piyush: I was very nervous about the result while everyone else was enjoying themselves and having fun. Even Rupesh and Sagar sir were having fun and everyone was pointing towards me saying Piyush is so nervous. When our names were announced as winner, I shed tears of joy that our effort has paid off. So I was happy but more than that I was scared at the finale.

How have the post win celebrations been?
Rupesh: My family had a special welcome for me and they are planning parties with our loved ones. Of course I will have to give a lot of treats to celebrate our win.

Besides the win, any other moments from Dance Deewane that will remain with you for a lifetime?
Piyush: The whole show has been special, but dancing with Dharmesh sir and he gifted me his jacket twice. The fact that Dharmesh sir asked me for my autograph is a very big thing. Sharing the stage with legendary celebrity guests like Waheeda Rehman ma'am, Rekhaji, Asha Parekhji, Helen ma'am, even Janhvi Kapoor is something I still recall and feel lucky.

Where do we see you next?
Rupesh: I want to work in the film industry, but I'm not taking any immediate decision. I'll have to plan my next move.

What has your journey before the show been like?
Piyush: A dancer's life is full of struggle, your struggle doesn't end even after winning a reality show. I have auditioned for many shows before winning Dance Deewane. I used to sleep on the footpath outside audition venues or join the line at night itself so I get through in the morning. You have to keep auditioning with the same spirit even after being rejected. That's how you gain experience and enjoy despite the struggle.

Any advice for contestants trying their luck on reality shows?
Rupesh: If you love dance, don't give up. When you get rejected, go home and think about what mistakes you made. Come back and try again. Nowadays there are so many opportunities, which is a great thing for dancers.