Riteish Deshmukh voluntarily takes a backseat

By Subhash K. Jha, Bollywood Hungama News Network

You've heard of actors demanding extra songs and dialogues from their co-stars. But have you ever heard of an actor offering to relinquish songs and dances for the betterment of the film?

That's what Riteish Deshmukh did on the sets of Milap Jhaveri's Jaane Kahan Se Aayee Hai last week. On being told he was required to do an elaborately choreographed song sequence Riteish questioned the wisdom and sheer logic of his character breaking into intricate dance steps and offered to let the film's young romantic lead Ruslaan Mumtaz do all the dancing.

Disbelieving of the confidence level displayed by his co-star, Ruslaan says, "The choreography by Bosco-Caesar involved a lot of B-Boing which is the hip-hop style of dancing. The girls Jacqueline Fernandes and Sonal Sehgal begged off and were given easier steps. That left only me and Riteish. But Riteish put his foot down. He said, 'How can I dance so well when I play a loser?' And he volunteered to just stand quietly while I danced."

Ruslaan is all praise for his co-star. "Not too many actors would be happy without songs and dances just to be in character. Riteish is allowing me to do all the hero-giri because he says I play the filmy hero and therefore I should do all the filmy stuff.

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