True friendships in this industry , known to worship only the rising sun and spiraling sensex, are rare .

So when one hears of Farah Khan setting aside her resolve to relinquish the pleasures of choreography for motherhood domesticity and direction(in that order) for friendship’s sake , one ‘s heart soars with joy.

Debutante director Anthony D’Souza who shot a very complicated item song with Kylie Minogue and the rest of the cast for Blue , takes you by surprise when he says Farah Khan not only agreed to come out of her extended maternity leave to do the song she also refused to charge any money.

“We’ve the cheque ready. But she won’t accept it. Farah won’t take any money for the Kylie Minogue song, although it’s a very lengthy and taxing number. She says she can’t charge me because I’m a very old and dear friend.”

Anthony and Farah have known each other for 18 years. “I first got to know her in 1991. I made ads and music videos. She went on to make a name for herself as a choreographer and then a filmmaker. I had decided she’d choreograph for me when I turn director. When this complicated number came my way I knew it was Farah’s call. But I didn’t know she’d insist on doing it for free,” says the director emotionally.

The number acquires a special distinction because it would be the first Hindi song composed by A R Rahman after the Oscars, and that too featuring an international artiste.

“The number was very intricately filmed. It starts off with Kylie then all the other members of the cast are brought in. I’d have paid Farah any amount to choreograph it,” says Anthony emotionally. -Sampurn Medai