Bollywood mourns the death of leading Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan. She was 71 and died after a cardiac arrest on Thursday night in Mumbai. She was admitted to the Guru Nanak hospital at the end of the last month when she complained of breathing problems.
Saroj Khan tested negative for COVID-19. Her nephew Manish Jagwani confirmed her death to the Indian press. Her funeral was held on Friday in Mumbai. She is survived by son Raju and daughter Sukaina Khan.
Saroj Khan had an illustrious career in the Bollywood spanning for more than five decades. Also, known as ‘Master Ji’, Bollywood is mourning the loss of its finest choreographer. Celebrities are commemorating her remarkable work of choreographing nearly 2000 songs and working with generations of actors and actresses.
Saroj ji was an institution in herself. She has inspired so many choreographers, dancers, actors and directors to reach excellence in their work with her own gift of genius. Her art and legacy will live on forever. My deepest condolences to her family, friends and fans 🙏
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) July 3, 2020
She played a vital role in the success of renowned celebrities like Sri Devi and Madhuri Dixit. Madhuri Dixit and Sri Devi are famous for their quintessential dance performances.
Meanwhile, Bollywood seems to be gripped under the dark clouds of demises. Saroj Khan is the latest Bollywood celebrity to pass away, in the ongoing wave of death that began with actor Irrfan Khan in April.
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Bollywood mourns the death of Saroj Khan
While Bollywood was still recovering from the shocking suicide incident of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the death of veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has plunged Bollywood once again in utter grief and shock. Unfortunately, since April, every month Bollywood is losing a renowned celebrity. In April, Bollywood shook with the death of actor Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapor back-to-back. Then, at the end of May, music director Wajid Khan passed away. Recently, the suicide case of Sushant Singh Rajput left the Bollywood celebrities and fans in utter disbelief.
Woke up to the sad news that legendary choreographer #SarojKhan ji is no more. She made dance look easy almost like anybody can dance, a huge loss for the industry. May her soul rest in peace 🙏🏻
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 3, 2020
Bollywood stars Anuska Sharma, Shilpa Shetty, Varun Dhawan, Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff, Akshay Kumar, and Varun Dhawan took to social media to express their grief on the death of Saroj Khan.
The Indians revered her as the ‘Mother of Dancing’ in India. Anushka Sharma called her an institution in her tweet.
Madhuri Dixit worked closely with Saroj Khan. Dixit said she is devastated to hear the news. Madhuri shared on Twitter, “I’m devastated by the loss of my friend and guru, Saroj Khan. Will always be grateful for her work in helping me reach my full potential in dance. The world has lost an amazingly talented person. I will miss you, My sincere condolences to the family. #RIPSarojji”.
I'm devastated by the loss of my friend and guru, Saroj Khan. Will always be grateful for her work in helping me reach my full potential in dance. The world has lost an amazingly talented person. I will miss you💔 My sincere condolences to the family. #RIPSarojji
— Madhuri Dixit Nene (@MadhuriDixit) July 3, 2020
On the work front, Saroj Khan last worked with Alia Bhatt, Madhuri, and Sonakshi Sinha for the movie Kalank. She also worked with Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’. With time, Saroj Khan had become selective with her projects in Bollywood.
History and background of Saroj Khan
Saroj Khan was born in 1948 in Mumbai, India. She started her career as a child artist at the age of three with the film Nazarana as child Shyama, and a background dancer in the late 1950s. Saroj learned to dance while working under film choreographer B. Sohanlal. She married him at the age of 13 while he was 43 years. But Saroj Khan did not know Sohanlal was married and had 4 children.
In 1975, she married businessman Sardar Roshan Khan. They were blessed with a daughter, Sukaina Khan. Sukaina Khan runs a dance institute in Dubai. Later, she shifted to choreography, first as an assistant choreographer, and later getting her break as an independent choreographer, with Geeta Mera Naam (1974).
#RIP choreographer SAROJ KHAN passes away at 71
seen here with Madhuri Dixit – at least one mega chartbuster In every film – Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Dil, Beta, Thanedaar, Khalnayak, Raja, Sailaab, Anjaam, Devdas and many more.#SarojKhan pic.twitter.com/BefjqawBjZ
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 3, 2020
A tragic loss. Saroj ji will be remembered as a path-breaker, an inspiration and a beautiful human. Condolences to the family and friends.#SarojKhan pic.twitter.com/UtimR6WMmK
— Red Chillies Entertainment (@RedChilliesEnt) July 3, 2020
#SarojKhan was someone who made the stars shine even brighter on screen… you will always be remembered. #RIPSarojKhan pic.twitter.com/1vZKrg7UMU
— Filmfare (@filmfare) July 3, 2020
However, she had to wait many years to receive acclaim, which came with her work with Sridevi; Hawa Hawai in Mr. India (1987), Nagina (1986) and Chandni (1989), and later with Madhuri Dixit, starting with the hit Ek Do Teen in Tezaab (1988), Tamma Tamma Loge in Thanedaar (1990)and Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in Beta (1992). Thereafter, she went on to become one of the most successful Bollywood choreographers.
Read more: Irrfan Khan, the silent superstar, leaves Bollywood mourning at 53
In 2014, Khan worked with Madhuri Dixit again in Gulaab Gang. She was on the advisory board of Rishihood University.
Saroj Khan’s TV appearances
Saroj Khan appeared on a reality dance show as a member of the jury in 2005 Nach Baliye, which aired on STAR One. She also appeared in the second season of the same show. She has recently been a judge for the show Ustaadon Ka Ustaad, aired on Sony Entertainment Television (India). Saroj Khan appeared on the 2008 show Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan aired on NDTV Imagine. She choreographed for this show. She also appeared on Sony’s Boogie Woogie (TV series) show from December 2008 as one of the judges, along with Javed Jaffrey, Naved Jaffrey, and Ravi Behl.