On the sets of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 6, the participants have got the memo down pat. They amuse and entertain Karan Johar just like his films do and dance their way into Madhuri Dixit Nene's heart. However, when it comes to respect, they reserve it for choreographer and filmmaker Remo D'Souza. All of them vie for those three magic words from Remo — 'This is it'. It's a make or break for the contestants and D'Souza doles it out rarely. But everybody wants to hear it. "It's getting quite confusing now…they are all doing great, especially the girls, Mukti, Sana, Drashti and Sonali. It's getting tough," says Remo, during a break from the shoot at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai. Remo doesn't take his job lightly. Since he is the dance expert on the reality show, his comments have to offer 'that something more' for the contestants, something that they can take home. He always gives feedback on technique, posture, flow and rhythm. His own process is simple but he thrives on nervous energy. "Every time I do a song, I don't sleep the night before. I am nervous, jittery, excited and sceptical of what I will do," he says. But it all goes away when he is on stage.

"Once I am on the sets, my worries vanish. I find myself in a zen like space. I never shout and instead, keep everyone positive. People are scared of me because I am strict and push them to deliver their best," says Remo. A self-taught dancer, Remo started off by assisting Bollywood choreographer Ahmed Khan, and got his first film, Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar in 2000. "I had to make non-dancers like Manoj Bajpayee, Tabu and Saurabh Shukla dance, which is a choreographer's true test. But I believe that anybody can dance. As a choreographer, it is up to me to find their rhythm, style and make them comfortable in that form," he says.