Would love to direct Ranbir-Katrina, but will they want to work with me? - Bosco Martis

After trying to chase him for an interview for almost a month, choreographer Bosco Martis of Bosco-Caesar, finally managed to squeeze time from his schedule. Bosco surely needs no introduction. He is the man who has given us some crazy and tough moves in the form of Bang Bang, Tu Meri, Gallan Goodiyan among many others. He has made Ranbir-Deepika do some Matargashti, Shahid-Alia groove to Gulaabo and is also shoooting with Katrina-Sidharth for their new song from Baar Baar Dekh. And despite having worked with the biggest names in Bollywood, Bosco doesn't have the air about it and is absolutely sweet to us. We settle down in a suburban restaurant with our respective drinks, for a candid chat. Excerpts from the interview:

You and Caesar have been working for years. How do you guys divide work?

It depends on the song and also on the favourites. We have out favourite directors, actors. Like for instance, I like working with Imtiaz Ali and he likes working with Aanand L. Rai. So it is easier for us to divide work.

So then do you'll discuss work?

We brainstorm once but then we go with our instinct. We do suggest each other but then at the end it is the individual person's decision who is choreographing.

Your choreography always has that one hook step which stays with people. Is it consciously done?

Yes it is. Every time I have spoken about it, people have some good thing to talk about it and we try and maintain that. I don't know if it stays with the audience or it is a hook step or something, but I like to believe if you are saying. Some songs can't be copied like Bang Bang or Tu Meri, while others I don't know if it can be called a conscious effort. Sometimes we feel the audience should take the effort of learning the step. Don't want to spoon-feed the audience. They should show some excitement to learn as well.

Does your choreography change from actor to actor?

It definitely does because eventually we have to make the actor comfortable. We cannot highlight his flaws. It comes with experience and time.

So then when an actor/actress is a good dancer, does it help?

It is easier but also tough. Someone like Hrithik Roshan who knows it all, you have to show him something that he hasn't done before. It is tough but they make your stuff look good. They own the whole mood. Like Shahid, Alia - these guys take it to a different level.

With whom do you enjoy working more?

I think Ranbir. Ranbir, Ranveer, Shahid - there is no formality with them. This is the way it is how they talk. With Ranbir, it is like you can just mould him the way you want. Even Bachchan Ji, I mean we just love working with him because he will see the move and want to be a part of it. There is no discussion. He will trust us and try doing it the way we want it to be. 

Have you ever had to change your choreography for an actor?

Sometimes yea because if the actor has any injury then we have to change it. Like for instance, for Gunday, Ranveer had injured his foot. So then we had to make some changes. Though it isn't apparent on-screen, because Ranveer is on a different high and he doesn't let those things translate. Also may be when some actors have long hands or some moves don't look right, even then we to process it in the right way. Then the technique comes in.

How is it working with Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor?

What is beautiful is that they have their own style. When you show one move, it looks different on each of them because of their body type. And the girls are really very hardworking. They want to rehearse and they know how important practice is. They give their best shot. For instance, Deepika came for rehearsals for Matargashti. It is nothing taxing but she still wanted to see how it is to be done. 

Are you all involved with the music sittings of a film too?

Yes most of the time. Whole of Shaandaar we sat for the music sessions. Sometimes we get songs after they are done and few other times the song is changed as well later. Like when we were doing Chor Bazari, it was a different song. For Cocktail, we shot on the english song and then Angrezi Beat was incorporated.

Which song according to you was tough?

I think Bang Bang because there was lot of discussion but eventually it comes out to what it is, one of the most loved songs. But I think Bang Bang was one of the toughest one and we were also shooting for Dil Dhadakne Do. That whole procedure was tough because we didn't have time. With actors you need to be there and they shouldn't feel neglected.

Recently, you choreographed for Ki and Ka. How was it?

Ki and Ka was fantastic. Arjun and Bebo are amazing and that song is of a different breed. we also shot for a video down south for a friend. It makes me feel good.

There were reports of a fall out between you and Katrina during rehearsals of Baar Baar Dekho... Do these incidents hamper your relation with her?

There was no fall out. And no it doesn't change my equation with her because this has made more news than my work (laughs). May be they are sympathizing. But there is nothing like that. There is mutual respect for each other. It is funny and stupid of someone to quote that. And also that relation will never scar at all because I know the relation I share with her. So this doesn't make a difference.

Katrina recently said that when she feels like talking crazy at 4 am, she calls you up. Your comments?

We share jibberish talks. We just have stupid things to talk. 'What are you doing? I am looking at the ceiling' that kind of talks we share.That has developed through mutual respect for each other. Katrina is a workaholic, go-getter. When she wants to learn a particular move, she will try everything that she can. That is the spirit she has and I respect that. We can talk non-sense and get away with each other. When I talk to her, I don't have to be politically correct. I love this rapport.

Since you share good rapport with Katrina, is it easier to work with her?

Sometimes its bad. Because she can tell me what a weird move this is and I have to convince her. With someone else, it will be a formality. A cute banter keeps happening between us. She probably knows me and hence she is opinionated about it.

How would you rate Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor as dancers?

Ranbir, Shahid, Ranveer are A-class dancers. Ranveer is full off energy, Ranbir is such a cool guy that he makes things look effortless. Shahid is a perfectionist. They are all at par with each other and that's the way they are.

And Kareena, Katrina, Alia, Deepika?

Kareena is a performer and her moves will not be like Katrina. Katrina has that appeal, body language. Alia is cute and bubbly and you see that spark in her. And Deepika is very precise, meticulous and she has that grace and charisma.

What's next on cards?

We have BBD, Rock On 2, Fitoor, Dangal, Dishoom.

There were reports that you were directing a film...

...(interrupts) I don't want to talk about it till I say roll camera. Everybody knows about it except me. I just want to get into it because its been a while. But I don't want it to be a joke. Right now film direction is like doing my first song, it's a struggle. Script is in place. Kangana did hear the script and liked it. But there are lot of formalities which need to be taken care of.

But didn't you always wanted to work with Ranbir and Katrina?

I would love to work with them but the question is will they want to work with me? For a song they would but for a film I don't know because they have a host of directors wanting to work with them. 

Did you approach Katrina for this one?

Not approached but she has an idea. But I felt the role is different and Katrina must have played it. Kat has always respected the fact that 'If its your first film, you should do your best'. Just because we are friends doesn't mean we should work together. That is the mutual admiration we have for each other.

You guys recently did a masterclass too and all celebs were posting about it. What was it?

What actually happened is that we did a master class. Unlike rest of the classes, this is a class where Caesar and I teach the students. It was received very well. People got to enjoy and vibe with us. All our hook steps weren't done properly by people. Hence we decided to teach them technique. We get to reach out to people. Slowly we will train new comers who want to enter Bollywood. It was nice of actors to support it. 

How was the first masterclass?

We will be doing these once in six months. Now this will travel and our next destination is Delhi. Probably, we might even go global. One of us will travel because then someone will also have to take care of the Bollywood department.

Where do you see yourselves five years from now?

By five years, I should have 1 hit film in my kitty.