Urmila Matondkar recalls iconic dance numbers from Rangeela: ‘Sarojji said I should’ve also been credited as choreographer’

Centred on Matondkar’s Mili, the Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff-starrer told the story of a girl-next-door pursuing her acting ambitions and love. In a way, Mili redefined the Bollywood heroine — while the styling influenced fashion trends across the country, Ram Gopal Varma’s directorial venture gave us a heroine who celebrated her sensuality. “I certainly didn’t think of it from that perspective when I did Rangeela,” reflects the actor. “There was a lot of relatability as she was from a middle-class family. Manish Malhotra and Ram Gopal Varma created Mili’s look. The entire team contributes to a film’s success, and it’s one of the career-best works of these people.”

Ram Gopal Varma

Another element that made waves was the unusual choreography to AR Rahman’s chartbusters — be it dancing by the beach in Tanha Tanha, or Mumbai streets becoming Matondkar’s stage in Rangeela Re. Legend has it that the leading lady stepped in for choreographer Saroj Khan on more than one occasion and designed some steps herself. Mention this to the actor, and she shares, “When I met Sarojji after Rangeela’s release, she told me that I should have also been credited as a choreographer. I was so embarrassed. [Such a compliment] coming from a master like her was something to be proud of. There were some pieces like the opening of Hai Rama and Pyaar Yeh Jaane Kaisa Hai, and a few steps here and there that I had done. I have done that in other movies as well.”

Rangeela marked the beginning of a successful collaboration between Matondkar and Varma. Why haven’t we seen them team up after Varma’s production Ek Hasina Thi (2004)? She says, “There is really no reason. He had great collaborations with most of his actors like Amitabh Bachchanji or Manoj Bajpayee. He worked more with them. I was [cast], depending on whether the movie required me or not.”  

9
Movies that the actor and Ram Gopal Varma have teamed up for 

On Jackie Shroff

“If my character is the epitome of femininity on celluloid, then Jackie’s is the ultimate male portrayal in cinema. He was such a phenomenal co-star to someone like me, who was still trying to find her way at that time.”

On Aamir Khan aka Munna

“I was crushing on Aamir after ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ [1988]. He was playing a tapori for the first time here, and was a true perfectionist. His beauty is that even after 15 takes, he makes the last shot look spontaneous.”