Hema Malini to perform her Ganga ballet in Varanasi, PM Modi and other dignitaries to attend

Even at 70, there can be no stopping Hema Malini. We have seen her in Bollywood’s iconic movies like Sholay, Dream Girl, Nasseb among many others, but being part in the big screen has never stopped the Bollywood icon from stretching her tentacles of skills in other fields most notably, dance. For those still living inside a cocoon, Hema Malini is a certified Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Kuchipudi dancer. In fact, she is one of those figureheads who has impressed fans with her dance skills in the role of Durga, Radha, Mahalakshmi, Draupadi among many others. 

After four years of waiting for her dance ballet, Ganga Hema Malini will deliver her much-awaited dance at Varanasi as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas celebrations. Speaking about the dance which she has waited for four years, the Sholay actor stated, “The concept had been with me for a long time. I wanted to make it four-five years ago, but it’s finally happening now. It was Union Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swarajji who told me, ‘Aap Ganga pe ek dance ballet karo.’ This was six-seven months ago. So, I thought, I better do it.”

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Speaking to DNA, Hema Malini promises Ganga to be a spectacle to behold. She added, “The ballet will have a combination of many Indian dance forms. Of course, there’s a beautiful Kathak number performed by the troupe. It’s a lovely concept. I was so obsessed with this ballet that I kept thinking of it continuously and the idea struck me when I was falling asleep. To me it felt that when Ganga is being brought down to Earth, she’ll flow with full force. Of course, Brahma says, ‘Let her come, I will catch her in my kamandal (water vessel).’ Vishnu tells him, ‘She is approaching with great speed. You won’t be able to control her.’ 

Brahma says, ‘Don’t worry, I will catch her.’ The lyrics are such that the track conveys it so aptly and amazingly. Shankar Mahadevan has sung it soulfully and wonderfully.”

She also further elaborated, “It’s quite a challenge to project Ganga’s entry on Earth. Vibhore Khandelwal, who has worked on the Kingdom Of Dreams among several other shows, has done the VFX of this 90-minute ballet. His work is of high technical quality. The special effects are beautiful, the whole stage is filled with girls, performing Kathak. And they are dressed in such a way that it looks like a whole lot of water is splashing on stage''. 

Malini also went onto tell the newspaper about being privileged to be able to perform this recital while the Kumbh Mela is happening. “So many millions of sadhus have come from all over. They will feel happy seeing the show. That’s why we are also presenting it in such a way that there’s nothing wrong with it right from costumes to everything else'' she adds. 

The mega event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among many other dignitaries.