Naseer preparing himself for his first item number

At the age of 61, actor Naseeruddin Shah is preparing himself for his first item number. The veteran will be attending extensive workshops to perfect his dance performance in director Hriday Shetty’s Chaalis Chauraasi.

“Yes, I have agreed to do the item number and I’m pretty excited about the moves. Let’s see if people enjoy the jig as much as I do,” says Shah, who last shook a leg to Tirchi topi wale… in Tridev (1989) and more recently in Ishqiya alongside Vidya Balan.

“Contrary to what people may feel, I didn’t have to cajole him into doing the number,” says Shetty. “He agreed because the song plays an integral part in establishing his character.”

Apparently, Shah is also learning a few dance steps for Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture, where he is once again paired opposite Balan. But according to Shetty, the steps for Chaalis Chauraasi will be ‘kick a**’. “Piyush Panchal is choreographing some crazy moves for Badmast mein ho gaya re….

Naseerudin shah There will not be any foreigners dancing in the background,” laughs Shetty, who in the past has directed Plan (2004) and Pyaar Mein Twist (2005). “It will also involve some performance and expressions as it describes Naseer’s character and how he loses his inhibitions.” The actor may also groove to North Indian folk dance steps apart from some modern moves for the track, which has been recorded by Daler Mehndi and composed by Lalit Pandit. The film goes on the floors today and also stars KK Menon and Atul Kulkarni.