Saroj Khan


Saroj Khan was a leading Indian dance choreographer in Hindi cinema. She was born in Bombay State, India. She was best known for Dance Form Mujra and the first woman choreographer in Bollywood. With a career spanning over forty years, she choreographed more than 3000 songs. She died on 3 July 2020 of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Early life and career

Born Nirmala Nagpal, her parents Kishanchand Sadhu Singh and Noni Singh migrated to India after partition of India. She started her career as a child artist at the age of three with the film Nazarana as baby Shyama, and was a background dancer in the late 1950s. She learnt dance while working under film choreographer B. Sohanlal, whom she married at the age of 13 while he was 43 years and was already married with 4 children which she did not know at the time of marriage. After having three children, the couple separated; after their separation, she married businessman Sardar Roshan Khan in 1975 and changed her name after converting to Islam. They couple have one child together: a daughter, Sukaina khan, who is known to run a dance institute in Dubai. Later, she moved to choreography, first as an assistant choreographer and later getting her break as an independent choreographer, with Geeta Mera Naam. However, she had to wait many years to receive acclaim, which came with her work with Sridevi; Hawa Hawai in Mr India, Main Teri Dushman, Dushman Tu Mera in Nagina and Mere Haathon Mein in Chandni, and later with Madhuri Dixit, starting with the hit Ek Do Teen in Tezaab, Tamma Tamma Loge in Thanedaar and Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in Beta. Thereafter, she went on to become one of the most successful Bollywood choreographers.
In 2014, Khan worked with Madhuri Dixit again in Gulaab Gang. She was on the advisory board of Rishihood University.

Television appearances

Saroj Khan appeared on a reality dance show as a member of the jury in 2005 Nach Baliye, which aired on STAR One along with two other judges. She also appeared in the second season of the same show. She has recently been a judge for the show Ustaadon Ka Ustaad, which is aired on Sony Entertainment Television. She appeared on the 2008 show Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan, which was aired on NDTV Imagine. She choreographed for this show. She appeared on Sony's Boogie Woogie show from December 2008 as one of the judges, along with Javed Jaffrey, Naved Jaffrey and Ravi Behl. She was a judge on the third season of a popular show – Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which began on 27 February 2009 and was aired on Sony Entertainment Television alongside former Nach Baliye judge Vaibhavi Merchant and actress Juhi Chawla.
She was judging the dance reality show Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan. She has hosted and completed Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan.
In 2012, The Saroj Khan Story, a documentary produced by PSBT and Films Division of India and directed by Nidhi Tuli was released.
She appeared in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as a judge in a dance competition.
She won three National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards, the most recognition of any choreographer.

Death

Saroj Khan was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital at Bandra, Mumbai on 17 June 2020, because of breathing difficulties, and died of cardiac arrest on 3 July 2020. She was 71 and is survived by son Raju Khan and daughter Sukaina Khan. She outlived her daughter Cuckoo Khan, who died in February 2019.

Selected filmography

;As writer
National Film Award
Saroj Khan was the recipient of the most National Film Awards for Best Choreography with three wins.
YearFilmNominated workCategoryResultRef.
2003Devdas"Dola Re Dola"Best Choreography
2006SringaramAll songsBest Choreography
2008Jab We Met"Yeh Ishq Haaye"Best Choreography

Filmfare Best Choreography Award
Saroj Khan was the first recipient of the filmfare Best Choreography Award. Filmfare instituted this award after watching the excellent choreography and audience response to Khan's song "Ek Do Teen" from Tezaab. Saroj Khan went on to have a hat-trick at the Filmfare awards winning consistently for 3 years from 1989 to 1991. She also held the record for winning the most Filmfare Best Choreographer Awards, winning 8.
American Choreography Award
Nandi Awards
  • 1998: Nandi Award for Best Choreographer: Choodalani Vundi
Kalakar Awards'''
In April 2018, Khan made statements defending the practice of casting couch, stating that the film industry provides people employment and "doesn’t rape and abandon" them. Following online backlash, she apologised for her comments.