Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is not a cake walk for Isha

Isha Sharvani's background as a trained dancer left many saying that her participation in "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5" is unfair given the non-dancers on the show. But the actress says there are many dance forms she is not an expert at and her choreographer has to work hard to teach her new styles.

"He (Salman) is teaching me a lot! He is a good choreographer. He has landed up with a girl who is a classical dancer in a show with a format, which doesn't want classical dance. So I'm learning salsa, I am learning western contemporary dance and all these full on shaking shoulders and hips. All that is something I don't do so much, so he is having to work very hard with me," Isha told.

The 27-year-old is trained in traditional forms like Kalaripayattu, Chhau and Kathak. She may know the nuances of dance, but she refrains from dictating the terms during rehearsals.

"Salman is the choreographer - that's respectful. You can't do that with the choreographer," she said.

The actress, who impressed one and all with her dance in movies like "Kisna" and "Luck By Chance", belongs to a family deeply rooted in Indian art and culture. Her mother, Daksha Sheth, runs a dance gurukul, her father is a composer, and her brother is a percussionist.

While Isha was confident she wanted to participate in "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5", her family was concerned, she said, adding: "They were very worried how I would fit in."

But all's good for now, considering the praise and applause she has been receiving on the show.

Ace choreographer Remo D'Souza has already claimed that no one does Mallakhamb better than Isha in India. But he admits the show poses a challenge to her.

"It's a big challenge for Isha. People think she is a fantastic dancer and she has a dance background. But she has a particular dance form which she is good at - not the other dance forms. She has to struggle to get those dance forms correct," Remo told.

On the film front, the actress will be seen in Bejoy Nambiar's "David", which will release towards the end of the year.

True to the "Shaitaan" director's style, it will be an "edgy" film, she added.