Ganesh Acharya


Ganesh Acharya is an Indian choreographer, film director and occasional film actor active in India Bollywood. He has choreographed for Bodyguard and Singham amongst others. He has also appeared in numerous music videos for films. He opened out as a film actor with the 2013 dance film . He won the National Film Award For Best Choreography at 61st National Film Awards for his work for song "Hawan Kund" from 2013 movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He was also nominated for the Best Choreographer Award for his song "Malhaari" from the 2015 film Bajirao Mastani at 61st Filmfare Awards.

Biography

When Ganesh was 10, his father, a dancer and a choreographer Mr. Gopi, died, which plunged his family into financial crisis and forced Ganesh to give up his studies. He later moved on to Cuttack, Orissa. Then he started learning the art of dancing from his sister. He later assisted famous choreographer Kamalji, until he died. Ganesh started his own dance group at the age of 12, became a choreographer at 19 and worked in his first film, Anaam at 21
In 2002, he was nominated in Screen Weekly Awards for best choreography for Badi Mushkil song from Lajja. In 2005, he was nominated for Technical awards in Zee Cine Awards as the best choreographer for the song Aisa Jadoo Dala Re from Khakhee. In 2007 he won Filmfare award for best choreography for the song Beedi from Omkara.
Ganesh choreographed five big films in the year 2006, namely Rang De Basanti, Phir Hera Pheri,, Omkara and Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
Following this, Ganesh decided to make a stand in film direction. His first film Swami, which is also produced and written by him, stars Manoj Bajpai and Juhi Chawla. It does not have any song and dance. The film is about the journey of a man called Swamy and his wife Radha.
In 2008, Ganesh Acharya made Money Hai To Honey Hai, a comedy involving a dead man, a will, much money and a way. In 2011, he played a villain in the Tamil film Rowthiram.
The famous item song Chikni Chameli from 2012 film Agneepath featuring Katrina Kaif was choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.
Govinda is his favourite dancer and among the heroines, his favourite is Madhuri Dixit. He has choreographed Govinda in almost all his films. He often features in songs, like "Koi Jaye to le aaye" from and "Khullam Khulla" in the movie Road.
He did a special appearance as Mr Zar in the superhit Chinese film Operation Mekong

Filmography

Films as choreographer

  1. Swami
  2. Money Hai Toh Honey Hai
  3. Angel
  4. Bhikari