Born and raised in New Jersey, Rujuta was the typical desi girl with dual personalities, totally American at school but dreamt of being Sridevi or Madhuri Dixit while at home. She decided very early in life to become a Bollywood dance choreographer and rejected her parents’ wish for her to become a doctor.
This Jersey girl convinced Bollywood’s iconic choreographer, Saroj Khan, to train her and even shifted base to Mumbai. She continues to spend time between India and the US and is candid about what she likes and doesn’t about life in the two countries.
Rujuta has scaled great heights in her career. From teaching dance moves to Sridevi in English Vinglish, to choreographing A. R. Rahman’s Slum Dog Millionaire for the Oscars and bringing bhangra to the stage with her production Bhangin It. She is associated with the Dance with Madhuri platform, offering dance instructions in 50 different styles. It is for dancers, would be dancers and anyone interested in fitness through dancing.
Rujuta is very gung ho about South Asian representation in the global entertainment industry and has some sound advice for young South Asians hoping to make it. Her fingers are crossed for a Bollywood type show she is trying to develop for Broadway sometime in the future.
And remember to listen till the end so you can discover some of Rujuta’s favourite things during the rapid fire.
