My uncles (who choreographed films like Guide, Mera Naam, Joker and Ganga Jamuna) were great choreographers back in the 1940s and 1950s. So I bought the DVDs of their Hindi and South Indian films. I did research for six months, just for one song.
Then I noted down how the dance would start and all the details from the first to the last shot. I made notes for three months, and then met Ashu again.
I told him my vision and plan for the song for 45 minutes, and at the end of it, he was thrilled!
He did not know which part to edit, and what to retain. I gave him three choices, and he chose the ethnic style, which included a lot of Kathak.
Also read: The inspiration behind Jodhaa Akbar