'Choli Ke Peeche' and 'Ek Doh Teen' were my favourite numbers as

Hear the words of Karishma Tanna, who with joy remembered: “‘Choli Ke Peeche’ and ‘Ek Doh Teen’ were my favourite numbers as a kid. I was a huge fan of Madhuri Dixit and would spend hours looking into the mirror and aping her expressions, believing that the mirror was the camera!” At first, this seems the innocent play of a child, but hidden within is a profound truth: that greatness often begins not in grand halls or on dazzling stages, but in the quiet, private rituals of imagination. The mirror becomes the stage, the heart becomes the audience, and the dream begins to take root.

To name Madhuri Dixit as her muse is to name a star who embodied grace, power, and beauty. For the young Tanna, watching Madhuri dance in ‘Ek Doh Teen’ or ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ was not mere entertainment—it was revelation. It showed her the heights of expression, the fire of performance, the magnetism of artistry. In imitating her, Tanna was not merely playing—she was rehearsing for a life she had not yet entered, preparing unconsciously to walk in the footsteps of performers who had come before.

The mirror in her words is more than glass—it is a symbol. The mirror reflects not only the body, but the dream of who one longs to be. In believing it was a camera, Tanna transformed her small room into a stage as vast as the cinema itself. This act of imagination is the seed of every creator: to see the ordinary as extraordinary, to treat play as practice, to build in private the skills that will one day shine in public. What may seem childish mimicry is, in truth, the earliest form of artistic discipline.

History bears witness to such beginnings. Consider the story of Charlie Chaplin, who as a poor boy in London imitated the movements of people on the street, mimicking their walk, their mannerisms, their expressions. To others, it was the idle play of a child; to Chaplin, it was the first step toward becoming the greatest silent actor of his time. Like Tanna before her mirror, he turned ordinary moments into training grounds, long before the world recognized his genius. The pattern is clear: imagination practiced with passion becomes destiny.

In her memory lies also the power of influence. Madhuri Dixit, through her artistry, unknowingly planted seeds in countless young hearts. This is the sacred responsibility of every artist: to know that their work does not vanish when the lights dim, but lives on in the dreams of those who watch. For some, it is fleeting; for others, like Tanna, it becomes a lifelong fire. Thus, her words remind us that inspiration is not passive—it is the force that sets the next generation into motion.

The lesson here is timeless: honor the dreams of your childhood, for they often carry the purest vision of who you were meant to be. Do not dismiss the hours you spent singing in secret, dancing when no one was watching, drawing in the margins of your books, or speaking aloud as though to an audience. These were not wasted moments—they were rehearsals for the life your soul desired. And if you have forgotten them, return to them, for within them lies the map of your truest self.

So let Karishma Tanna’s words be a torch: the mirror of your youth is the camera of your destiny. What you practice in innocence may one day become your craft, your calling, your gift to the world. Therefore, cherish your inspirations, imitate your heroes, and honor your private passions, for from such small acts are born the performances that light up the world. And never forget: the spark you carry in your heart today may ignite the dreams of another tomorrow.