Shakti Mohan says dancers have no fixed hours, recalls 18-hour workdays

Dancer-choreographer Shakti Mohan has weighed in on the demand to regulate working hours in the entertainment industry. Speaking to India Today, she said there is nothing like working hours in a dancer's life and admitted to working for 18 hours in her initial days.

In the exclusive interview with India Today, the 40-year-old also recalled how her life changed after gaining fame, why she stopped acting, starting her own dance production brand and whether she faced any competition and comparison with her sisters.

CHANGING WORK CULTURE IN THE DANCE INDUSTRY

When discussing the importance of regulated working hours, Shakti said the concept barely exists in a dancer and choreographer's life in India. "When we used to do Dil Dosti Dance (2011), we used to work for 12 hours minimum. Some days we would work for 15 hours. On some days, we would have rehearsals after the shoot, then I used to go for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Season 7) rehearsals."

She highlighted that such extended workdays were common, especially before recent conversations about work-life balance gained traction. "We came from an environment where there was no awareness of working hours. Even in Dance India Dance (Season 2), we would have a working day of 18 hours," she elaborated.

Expanding on the mindset that allowed her to manage such intense schedules, Shakti explained, "It's good that people have a work-life balance, but we have the background that we don't have any complaints. We think hum logo ko kitna bhi kaam karwalo, hum kar lenge and khushi khushi kar lenge (They think that no matter how much work they give us, we will do it, and we will do it happily)."

Shakti, however, isn't complaining. She says the important thing is to be motivated about one's work. "I won't sulk because we are so driven and motivated by what we are doing. I don't think of this as work, but I do understand that people have that kind of choice – that they would only work for a certain number of hours. So, that's fine. That's their life."

DEALING WITH FAME

Shakti also spoke candidly about the unexpected aspects of fame that accompanied her success. "You don't realise that this is coming your way. Being a dancer, you don't expect to become famous at any point in your life. When it happened. I used to travel by local transport and everything. I had no idea that people would recognise me."

"When it happened, it used to make me feel a little bit like, okay, life has changed. People recognise you everywhere no matter where you go. Now I'm super comfortable. At that time, I was not expecting all these things, and I had never thought that this would happen in my life," she said, highlighting how success can bring public attention that is both surprising and challenging.

DEDICATION TO DANCE EDUCATION

On her career evolution, the dancer-choreographer reflected on stepping back from acting after Dil Dosti Dance. She said, "I have been thinking about getting back because I loved it. In the last 10 years, I have devoted myself to creating a dance school and training kids."

"I feel like I want to start again. We are already in the works of creating something," she said, expressing her desire to make an acting comeback.

TAKE ON DANCE TRENDS

We also asked Shakti whether she worries that dance is losing its depth in the age of viral hooks and reels. To which, Shakti opined that the public's judgment reigns supreme. "The public is everything. If they are accepting something, that's what's going to work. I am nobody to judge them. Everyone has their own liking. If, in today's day and age, a particular way of dancing works, I will absolutely respect that. A trend is a trend; it will pass."

SIBLING COMPARISONS AND COLLABORATION

Family dynamics and comparisons have also played a role in Shakti Mohan's professional journey. She candidly spoke about her three sisters – Neeti (elder sister), Kriti (older sister) and Mukti (younger sister).

The 40-year-old explained, "Neeti is much older than me. She is six years older than me. So, there was no comparison between her and me. She was like a mother to us. She was very sincere, and I was very naughty."

"Everyone thought that Mukti was very naughty, but I have done a lot of mischievous things in my boarding school. So, I used to get scolded. There was a lot of comparison between Mukti and me because we both used to look like each other since we were twins. People used to tell her, 'See, your sister has topped'. So, there was a lot of pressure on her being a younger sister," Shakti shared, reflecting on the pressures of coming from a family of performers.

Performing with her sisters has introduced new dimensions to their relationship.

"This is a new dynamic because all three of us share the stage now to put together a two-hour show – Mohan Sisters Live. So, we have a lot of fun and discussions. Every time, we have to do something new. We are creative people. It's a lot of fun. I think being on stage with them and dancing with them just reminds me that we are doing nothing different from what we were doing as kids," she said about the ongoing collaboration.

GIVING BACK TO THE DANCE COMMUNITY

Explaining the origins of her dance production brand, Nritya Shakti, Shakti explained that her goal was to give back to her fans. "The purpose was just to give back to the people who have transformed my life. I did not have any expectations of becoming a dancer. My life has changed because of all the people who supported me in my journey from Dance India Dance to Dil Dosti Dance and Dance Plus. That's why I wanted to start my school. So, I can train more people and give them that sort of preparation to enter this world."

EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF DANCE IN INDIA

Looking at the wider landscape of dance in India, Shakti acknowledged that while conditions have improved, more progress is needed. She said, "Absolutely. I mean it has become better in the last 15 years with reality shows, and there's a lot of recognition also. New dancers get work and brands from social media. So, the situation has only become better, but we still have a long way to go."

Moving forward in 2026, Shakti will be starting Season 3 of Dance Across The World. She also hinted that she is working on an upcoming project, which would mark her return to acting.