The semi-classical dance steps for the songs of "Paheli" take one by surprise, considering that choreographer Farah Khan got little time to prepare and director Amol Palekar wasn't sure she was the right choice.

"I don't think I did a bad job, considering I was given just a couple of days to do them," says Farah.

And to think she was almost not allowed to do the choreography in "Paheli", starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee.

"That's true," the choreographer-director says. "Amol Palekar had serious reservations about me. He thought my steps were too Western to handle a traditional subject like 'Paheli'."

Farah had done classical Indian numbers before - for Santhosh Sivan's "Asoka". That didn't seem to convince Palekar.

Shah Rukh Khan would, of course, hear none of it. For him, friendship (with Farah) comes first.

What could've blown up into an impossible imbroglio was resolved with some dance-floor diplomacy.

"They came and saw how I was doing my dance rehearsals before being convinced. Actually, it was for Shah Rukh. So I don't mind," says Farah.

She, however, makes it clear she's no longer a choreographer on hire. "(After 'Main Hoon Na') I'm busy with my next directorial project 'Happy New Year'.

"I keep getting pulled back into this business of choreography by my friends. I can't say no to close friends like Shah Rukh, Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala," she says.

"He (Sajid) pulled me out of 'Main Hoon Na' to do the dances in 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'. Now I've to do his next film 'Jaan-e-Man' with Salman (Khan)-Akshay (Kumar)-Preity (Zinta), especially since my husband (Shirish Kunder) is directing it."

The cast of Farah's film is yet to be decided, though she is very keen on having Amitabh Bachchan in "Happy New Year".

"I want to direct him. Then I can claim I've directed the two best star-actors in Bollywood."