Mokshda Jailkhani, aged 22, is an electrifying dancer who sets the stage on fire with every move of her’s, and who is a delight to watch. Hailing from Srinagar, she did her schooling from Delhi Public School. She also holds a degree in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College (University Of Delhi).
She is trained well in dance forms like Urban, Hip-Hop and Dance Hall. This terrific dancer magnetized the audience with her groove especially in TV show, Dance+.
In conversation with Mokshda :
Q. You are, no doubt a marvelous dancer. And this makes us want to know more about you. So, tell us something about yourself.
Thank you so much! Well, there is nothing extraordinary as I see it, been dancing for some years now, I love it and I’ve been fortunate enough to do it as a career and not just as a hobby, after some struggles of course, due to how our society has been taking up artistic careers. College dance team, Kathak, Bollywood musical (zangoora, with the Shiamak team), Higher Vision Crew which is like my second family, and of course the reality dance show, Dance Plus have made me the dancer that I am today. So yes, there has’en exposure, experience, loads of it. But that is not all that I am, and I want to put this across. So apart from all these beautiful things, I write, sing, I am crazy spiritual enthusiast, a dreamer, a confused and constantly in wonder kind of creature and I want to make the world a better place in every way I can.
Q. When and how was it that you discovered the dancer in you?
Basically I grew up with an elder sister. She’s the real dancer, and I just started off by wanting to become like her. Not just dancing, but in every possible way. She has’en my inspiration and always she will be. So, it just started off by copying her and trying to be as amazing as she was to me, you know, and then eventually it so happened that I loved dancing even when I was not copying her…hahaha!! It made me happy. And since then, like from 5 years of age, I have been dancing, but “discovered the dancer in you” happened to me at about 12 years of age, when it was wanting to join the Shiamak Davar’s institute, because my sister had’en like a pro there.
Q. What does dance mean in your dictionary and how would you define it?
I’ve seen a lot of beautiful performers and artists you know have their crazy deep definitions of dance or any other art they are into. I would say if you are expecting some fancy quote out of me, then I offer my apologies to you…hahahahah!! because to me, dance is what it is. It is like living a life. It’s a simple way of expressing your feelings, what you want your audience to feel, anything, you know! Syncing your physical self to music to be whatever you want whenever you want. Now having said that, I feel pretty much the same way about everything. Everything is art, and everything is about expressing and living a life.
Q. We have seen you on the television and the sensational ‘Cheap Thrills’ choreo. How different was life after that?
Oh well! that all has’en wonderful. So much love, everywhere I go, people appreciate you, love you, want to get snaps, I wouldn’t deny sometimes it gets a little too exhausting with your privacy invaded, but then in the end I know that everyone who is so affectionate loves you, and expects a lot from you and then I try to compose myself again. Of course there are always some who go a little out of the line and start treating public figures like objects and like we owe them something, that is really saddening and disturbing. But hopefully, you and I will change this soon, so all in all I am really thankful for this. Being loved for doing what I love. And I really love all my fans. Blessed!
Q. Allow us to know about some of your achievements till date.
My greatest accomplishment has’en making it big on the show, Dance Plus 2. Because before that I honestly had no idea what I was worth. The production team and the people made me see it. I am a very self critical person, and that was my first solo ever! (forget national television…hahaha). I gave the audition expecting nothing, and the next day, I was on the show. Realizing my worth and wanting to grow more from here. It’s a blessing indeed!
Q. Any special stage moment, a memory, you would cherish for always?
During one of my performances on the show, I was going through a lot, both physically and mentally. I was on the verge of quitting, and the only person who knew everything inside out at that time was my mentor, Dharmesh Sir. He stayed up nights with me to rehearse, he untied the leash of any scripts or any crap that held me back, and together we designed my chair act, if you’ve seen it. So during that performance, there was a moment where I was in a plea position and I had to just pause and give a look. I looked at him and we had an eye contact. During that time, he gave me an excited, ecstatic look, and he mouthed “yaaaasss” and after that, I forgot everything, and the next second till the end of the song, I turned into the fierce goddess. He has made me a stronger person and a performer. So yes, that was a moment one of a kind.
Q. What are your forthcoming goals in this field?
As of now, I am planning
- a tour of the country to share all that I have in me as a dancer, basically a series of workshops “untamed India tour”
- I want to resurrect my youtube channel, it’s been dead for a while now. And working on a secret project. It’s a surprise for all my fans.
- I have started working on a book, I hope to make things simpler for people like me through it.
So, as of now, these three goals.
Q. No doubt you would have made many followers after all that strong dancing. Any message you would want to pass on to our aspiring dancers out there?
- If you love something, then always pursue it, but never push yourself up to a point where you start to lose that passion. Balance is mandatory to stay at your best in the game.
- Respect each and every artist, we’re never too big or too better than anyone. Every individual has something that you don’t.
- Practice and learning should never stop even if you become a legend. And in the end, it’s all love, so don’t make it anything else 😉