Shriya Pilgaonkar is currently enjoying the strong response to “Mirzapur: The Movie,” but the actor already has another release waiting in the wings. Her next appearance comes in Priyadarshan’s “Haiwaan,” which stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan and gives Pilgaonkar a chance to explore a very different side of her screen presence. The actor has now opened up about filming the movie’s newly featured dance track, “Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan,” and why the experience felt particularly special to her.
For Pilgaonkar, the song represents something she has wanted to explore more often on screen. Although she has appeared in songs before, she describes this as her first full-scale glamorous Bollywood dance number. The track was filmed at Mumbai’s SNDT College and also brought her together with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Saiyami Kher, making the shoot a lively experience for the actor.
Shriya Pilgaonkar Takes On A New Avatar
One of the biggest attractions for Pilgaonkar was the contrast between her work in “Mirzapur: The Movie” and “Haiwaan.” The two projects place her in noticeably different worlds, allowing the actor to shift from one screen persona to another without feeling tied to a single image. She believes that contrast is part of what makes having both films around the same time exciting.
“What’s exciting about “Mirzapur: The Movie” and “Haiwaan” is that the looks and characters are completely different. While I have filmed songs before, this is my first full-scale, glamorous Bollywood number, so it was a really exciting experience,” she says.
The song was not part of a long-planned schedule either. Pilgaonkar reveals that “Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan” was added at the last minute, leaving the performers with limited preparation time before they had to get in front of the camera. Rather than making the shoot difficult, she found that lack of preparation gave the performances a more natural and spontaneous quality.
That approach also meant she could enjoy the moment instead of worrying too much about getting every movement perfectly planned in advance. For an actor who says she loves dancing but has not received enough opportunities to showcase it on screen, the song became a welcome change of pace.
Working With Bosco Martis
The track was choreographed by Bosco Martis, whose work Pilgaonkar has admired for some time. She describes him as someone who brought plenty of energy and fun to the set, helping create an atmosphere where the performers could relax despite the rushed preparation. The presence of Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Saiyami Kher added to the sense of a large-scale promotional song coming together quickly.
“Akshay Sir, Saif Sir, Saiyami and I had such a blast. Bosco Martis is so much fun and I’ve always loved his work. The song was a last-minute addition so we didn’t have much time to prepare which actually made the whole process feel more free-flowing and spontaneous,” Pilgaonkar says.
The song was filmed at SNDT College in Mumbai, following plans for a dance track that could help support the film’s broader promotional campaign. Its setting also adds to the larger Bollywood-song presentation that Pilgaonkar says was new territory for her.
While she appreciates performers who have developed distinctive dance styles, Pilgaonkar says she did not approach the song by trying to copy another actress. Katrina Kaif, in particular, is someone whose dancing she admires, but the actor wanted this performance to have her own personality rather than imitate an established star.
“Katrina brings incredible energy and effortlessness to her performances. But I didn’t try to replicate anyone for this song. I just wanted to own the moment and have fun with it. I love dancing and haven’t had enough opportunities to do it on screen, so this was a really fun experience and something I’d love to explore more going forward.”
Haiwaan Gives Her Room To Experiment
The timing of “Haiwaan” gives Pilgaonkar an interesting opportunity because audiences are seeing her in projects with very different tones. “Mirzapur: The Movie” connects her to a franchise with an established audience and familiar characters, while “Haiwaan” allows her to step into a more glamorous Bollywood presentation. That difference appears to be one of the things she is enjoying most about this phase of her career.
Priyadarshan directs “Haiwaan,” with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan leading the cast. The film has also been building interest around its Mumbai setting and promotional material, including the dance number featuring Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher and the two leading actors.
For Pilgaonkar, however, the song seems to be more than another promotional appearance. It gives her an opportunity to explore a part of performance she has not been able to use frequently despite her interest in dance. Her comments also suggest that she would be open to doing more such work if the right opportunities come along.
Shriya Pilgaonkar’s Haiwaan Dance Number Q&A
What is Shriya Pilgaonkar’s song in Haiwaan?
Shriya Pilgaonkar features in “Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan,” a dance number from Priyadarshan’s “Haiwaan.” The actor describes it as her first full-scale, glamorous Bollywood dance number.
Who choreographed Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan?
The song was choreographed by Bosco Martis. Pilgaonkar says she has always liked his work and enjoyed collaborating with him during the shoot.
Where was the Haiwaan song filmed?
“Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan” was filmed at SNDT College in Mumbai. The song was added to the project at a late stage, according to Pilgaonkar.
Who appears with Shriya Pilgaonkar in the song?
Pilgaonkar says Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Saiyami Kher were also part of the song. She described the group shoot as a particularly enjoyable experience.
Did Shriya Pilgaonkar copy Katrina Kaif’s dancing?
No. Pilgaonkar said she admires Katrina Kaif’s energy and effortless dancing but deliberately avoided replicating anyone for the song. She wanted to enjoy the performance and make the moment her own.
Why was the Haiwaan song special for Shriya Pilgaonkar?
The song gave her an opportunity to perform a large-scale glamorous Bollywood dance number, something she had not previously done in this format. She also says she loves dancing and would like to explore more opportunities to do it on screen.
