Vaibhavi Merchant

{{Infobox person

| name = Vaibhavi Merchant

| image = Vaibhavi_Merchant_don2_screening.jpg

| caption = Vaibhavi Merchant at a special screening of Don 2

| native_name_lang = Gujarati

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|31|2007|5|31}}

| birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| occupation = Choreographer, actor

| years_active = 1999 – present

| spouse =

| relatives = {{ubl|Shruti Merchant (sister)|Chinni Prakash (uncle)}}

| website = {{url|http://www.vaibhavimerchant.com/}}

}}

Vaibhavi Merchant is an Indian dance choreographer working in Bollywood films. She won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the song Dholi Taaro Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999.{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/47th_nff_2000.pdf|title=47th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=13 March 2012}}

Career

Merchant born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to Ramesh Merchant and Hridaya Merchant. She is the granddaughter of choreographer B. Hiralal & the elder sister of Shruti Merchant.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/i-can-t-help-if-saroj-khan-is-upset-vaibhavi-merchant/article1-226661.aspx |title=I can't help if Saroj Khan is upset: Vaibhavi Merchant - Hindustan Times |access-date=2014-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301065340/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/i-can-t-help-if-saroj-khan-is-upset-vaibhavi-merchant/article1-226661.aspx |archive-date=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead }}

She began her career by assisting her uncle Chinni Prakash.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/i-can-t-help-if-saroj-khan-is-upset-vaibhavi-merchant/article1-226661.aspx |title=I can't help if Saroj Khan is upset: Vaibhavi Merchant - Hindustan Times |access-date=2014-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301065340/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/i-can-t-help-if-saroj-khan-is-upset-vaibhavi-merchant/article1-226661.aspx |archive-date=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead }} In 1999, she did her first solo work for the choreography of the song Dhol Baaje for the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. She won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for her work.{{Cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx|title=Directorate of Film Festival|date=2014-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505163411/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx|access-date=2020-01-28|archive-date=5 May 2014}}

She had her acting debut in a Malayalam film Snehapoorvam Anna in 2000.

She took a short break from the industry and then returned with the song O Ri Chhori in the 2001 film Lagaan. She then choreographed Kajra Re from Bunty Aur Babli (2005) that fetched her several awards.{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sharing-platform-with-saroj-khan-a-privilege-vaibhavi-merchant/story-eYmA6BAcbcqsbbUD5naAeP.html | title= Sharing platform with Saroj Khan a privilege: Vaibhavi Merchant | date=27 April 2009 | newspaper=Hindustan Times | author=IANS | access-date=20 August 2018 }} She continued to choreograph selected numbers in films such as Devdas, Baghban, Fida, Dhoom (as well as its two sequels), Veer-Zaara, Aaja Nachle, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Aiyyaa. She also choreographed the Australian musical The Merchants of Bollywood, a musical written by Toby Gough about her family.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/making-the-right-moves-for-bollywood/2005/10/17/1129401196044.html|title=Making the right moves for Bollywood|date=17 October 2005|work=The Age|access-date=8 December 2013}}

She has been a judge on various television dance reality shows like Nach Baliye 3, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 3), Zara Nachke Dikha 2, and Just Dance.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130501044900/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Hit-the-dance-floor/Article1-1052110.aspx Hindustan Times]