Graceful Gracy dances to Radha's tunes

Mumbai: As actress Gracy Singh readied for her first ever dance performance on stage, she seemed more excited than anxious.

The reason was that the chief guest for her dance ballet portraying the life of Radha, was her idol, actress Hema Malini.

"She's been my inspiration and she's been very encouraging. I'm really looking forward to this programme," said Gracy.

"I've always been telling her since she joined films that she must continue to dance, so I'm glad she's started performing now," said Hema Malini.

There was a feeling of déjà vu as Hema Malini recalled presiding over Gracy's performance at her arangetram, or her first performance after her dance coaching.

"She was very nice though I was very angry with her that she stopped dancing after her arangetram," recalled Hema Malini.

Raadhikaa - the divine consort, has been choreographed by Bhushan Lakhandri.

That was reason enough for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali to attend the show, despite his busy schedule on account of his next film, Saawariya.

"Bhushan Lakhandri is a very, very dear friend. We started out together with Vidhu Vinod Chopra's first film, Parinda, where I was assistant director for songs and he was choreographer. Then of course for Khamoshi, he did Baahon ke darmiyaan. He's done Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Saawariya,” said Bhansali.

The stage rendition of Radha's life, from her birth to her union with Krishna after the Mahabharata, covered major events like Vrindavan Holi, Maharaas and Geet Govind.

All the episodes in the legend of Krishna were depicted from Radha's point of view - not through words, but with an imaginative synergy of dance, music and splendorous backdrops.

Even though Gracy says she is not quitting films, Bollywood's loss may just be dance's gain.

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