In a recent conversation with Bollywood Hungama, Shakti Mohan spoke about the deeply personal journey that shaped her transition from an academic path toward the world of dance. The dancer and choreographer reflected on how the desire to pursue dance began early in her childhood, even though she spent years preparing for a completely different future. Mohan shared that her inclination toward dance started when she was just eight years old.

She recalled feeling strongly that conventional academics did not match her interests and wishing she could instead attend a school where she could spend her day learning dance. “I clearly remember thinking at that age that I did not want to do all this studying. I only wanted to dance,” she said.

However, expressing that desire openly was not easy. Growing up in Delhi, Mohan explained that dance was not widely seen as a structured career option at the time, especially without exposure to the professional ecosystem of Mumbai. She said she kept her aspirations to herself until she turned 21 because she feared people would dismiss the idea.

“I was scared nobody would understand. People would ask what you can do as a dancer beyond being a background performer. We did not have exposure to anyone in the family connected to this field either,” she recalled.

Her journey began to shift after her family relocated to Mumbai in 2003 following her sister Neeti Mohan’s selection in the music group Asma on Channel V. The move opened new possibilities and exposed Mohan to professional dance in a way she had not experienced before. A defining moment came when she watched a live performance by choreographer Terence Lewis.

That experience changed how she saw dance as a discipline and a career. “After watching his performance, I felt this is what I want to do. I did not know which dance form or how I would get there.

Until then we only learned Bollywood dance by watching television. We had no formal training,” she said. At the same time, Mohan was pursuing political science and preparing for the civil services.

She described herself as a strong student and said choosing between academics and dance created a real internal conflict. “I was a topper studying political science in Delhi and preparing for the IAS. So I felt maybe I should do something related to studies.

It was very conflicting at that time,” she shared. She added that her sisters played an important role in supporting her decision during this phase of uncertainty. Their encouragement helped her take the first steps toward professional training and eventually shaped the direction of her career.

Today, Mohan’s journey reflects how early instincts, exposure to the right environment, and family support came together at a critical moment in her life, allowing her to move from a conventional academic trajectory toward becoming one of the country’s recognized dance performers and choreographers. Also Read: Shakti Mohan says she declined payment for Padmaavat song, calls working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali a ‘Big Opportunity’