Saroj Khan

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One of the leading and very prominent Indian dance choreographers in the Hindi Cinema, was born in Mumbai.  She was born to Kishanchand Sadhu Singh and Noni Singh who had migrated to India after the partition of India.    She had started her career as a child artist at the tender age of three with the film Nazrana in which she plays the role of young Shyama. And later was also a background dancer in the late 50’s.  

While she was learning to dance she worked under the choreographer B. Sohanlal.

Saroj Khan was married at the age of 13 while her husband was 43 years old and was already a much married man with 4 children which was hidden to her during her marriage and it came as a shock to the young girl. 

In 1975 she was married again to businessman Sardar Roshan Khan. That’s when she adopted the surname of Khan. The couple had a daughter Sukaina Khan out of this marriage and is said to have a dance institute in Dubai, and later shifted to being a choreographer like her mother.

Saroj Khan’s name brings to us some of the most famous and popular dances in Bollywood films.  She was called the ‘Mother of Dance/Choreography in India’ .

Saroj Khan started her career in 1974 with the film Geeta Mera Naam, however she had to wait for many long years to receive accolades and the title of a choreographer.   She received her first acclaim for her work with the late Sridevi in the film Mr. India for the song ‘ Hawai Hawai’ which went on to be one of the super hits and most popular song and dance in the film.   She was already working for Bollywood in many other films, wherein one can see Saroj Khan’s dance choreography. To name a few, Nagina in 1986, Chandni in 1989, Madhuri Dixit in Tezaab in 1988 for the super hit dance, Ek Do Teen which people and fans till today remember both Saroj Khan and Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit was in fact called the Ek Do Teen actress, Tamma Tamma Loge in Thanedaar in 1990 and the Dhak Dhak Girl Madhuri Dixit for her song Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in the film Beta in 1992 also had the choreography by Saroj Khan .

Thereafter Saroj Khan was a known name in the film industry and one of the most successful Bollywood choreographers.

In 2014 she was once again with Madhuri Dixit for the film Gulaab Gang and then also became the advisory board for Rishihood University.

Some of her most popular dance choreography were in the film Veer Zaara,  Mangal Pandey:The Rising, Love Aaj Kal, Jab We Met for which she won the National Film Award for Best Choreography with Kareena Kapoor.  For her film Guru she won the Film fare Award for the Best Choreography.   Kalank, Manikarnika, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Gulab Gang, ABCD: Any Body Can Dance, Rowdy Rathore, Agent Vinod, Life Partner, Love Aaj Kal, Delhi-6, Namastey London, Saawariya, Don 2006, Fanaa, Veer Zaar, Swades, Kuch Naa Kaho, Saathiya, Devdas of 2002 for which she won the Filmfare Award for the Best Choreography as well as for this film she won the National Film Award.  

For the film Lagaan, in 2001, Saroj had won the Filmfare Award for the Best Choreography , Fiza in 2000, Taal , Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam once again she had won the Filmfare Award for the Best Choreography and American Choreography Award. 

Some of the other films that she did choreography were Soldier,  Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Pardes, Khamoshi, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Yarana, Mohra and Anjaam.  Besides Baazigar, Aaina, Darr , Awaargi, Hero ..

If one looks at the film names one can see her presence in almost all the top films of the era .

She also did a few choreography for other regional language films in Tamil language.

Besides winning awards, she also appeared in dance reality shows as the member of the jury for the Nach Baliye seasons which was aired on Star One.  She was also one of the judges for the show Ustaadon Ka Ustaad aired on Sony Entertainment Television.  She appeared in Nacle Ve with Saroj Khan on NDTV Imagine..  She appeared in Boogie Woogie Television show along with Javed Jaffrey, Naved Jaffrey and Ravi Behl.  She was one of the judges in the season three for the most popular dance show called the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa aired on Sony Entertainment Televsiion alongside with the Nach Baliye Judge Vaibhavi Merchant and actress Juhi Chawla.

She has hosted many dance shows .

In 2012, The Saroj Khan story was produced and documented by PSBT and Films Division of India which was directed by Nidhi Tuli .

Saroj had also appeared in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma as the Judge in the Dance Competition.

With her death on 3rd July 2020, come the end of the legendary choreographer Saroj Khan who taught the Hindi film industry and its audience to tap their foot and appreciate dance.    Most of her songs were foottapping and so popular and much loved by the audience of all age.

She leaves behind her husband Sardar Roshan Khan , Son Hamid Khan and daughters Hina Khan and Sukaina Khan.