Saroj Khan died at the age of 71 (courtesy Instagram)
Highlights
- Saroj Khan died at the age of 71
- "A legend has left us," tweeted actress Shilpa Shetty
- "It was she who taught me film dance," tweeted Manisha Koirala
Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan, best known for choreographing iconic Bollywood songs, died of a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on July 3. She was 71. Tributes from the film fraternity, remembering Saroj Khan with fond memories, poured in on Twitter. "I'm devastated by the loss of my friend and guru, Saroj Khan," tweeted Madhuri Dixit, who was the star of several iconic dance songs, choreographed by Saroj Khan. Kajol, who was choreographed by Saroj Khan in Baazigar title track, wrote: "She taught me so much that I always used everywhere in so many other ways. When she danced it was like watching a whole book." Kareena Kapoor, who was choreographed by Saroj Khan in Yeh Ishq Haye, shared the veteran choreographer had taught her to: "enjoy dancing, smile and smile through the eyes." Tributes to Saroj Khan were also shared by the likes of Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Genelia D'Souza, Jacqueline Fernandez, Malaika Arora and others. Actresses Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan dedicated heart-warming tributes to Saroj Khan on their Instagram stories.
Remembering Saroj Khan, Amitabh Bachchan wrote: "On a chance meeting many many years ago she paid me my best compliment." In a tweet on Friday afternoon, Shah Rukh Khan said: "My first genuine teacher in the film industry."
Jalsa, Mumbai July 2/3, 2020 Thu/Fri 7:24 AM You rest .. you rest well .. you rise .. you realise the hours .. you seek the elixir .. you devour .. you get to connect .. ... and .. .. you be informed in this communicative world .. Saroj Khan has died .. .. and an entire history of time races before you in the cerebrum .. She was a sprightly young enthusiastic dance assistant to one of the major dance directors of the time .. of the time when I was just beginning .. of the film 'Bandhe Haath' with the heart throb of millions Mumtaz .. with the director OP Ralhan .. Mumtaz's grace and acceptance to agree to work with this newbe .. she a stratospheric Star , me a nobody .. .. and Saroj ji in the crowd of dancers in a song .. her subtle grace when she moved .. the expressions , the delicate little intricacies of each word and movement .. she was just so exceptional .. she was pregnant with child during the shoot , but never deterred from her work .. at one point I saw her , quite alarmingly , finding the foetus had shifted in her stomach and she simply unabashedly pushed it into place , and carried on .. dancing .. .. and then over the years .. she excelled and attained the podium title of Dance Director .. or as the language changed , the Choreographer of film .. her moves becoming famous for each artist she worked with .. and the love and affection she gave to all that came under her guidance .. and when she would see an artist give a good shot under her care .. she would call her or him aside .. and .. .. give a rupee coin .. as a gesture .. as a pat on the back .. a 'shagun' .. .. many many years later .. during the song sequence of a film I was doing .. I became the recipient of that coin .. an immense achievement .. Saroj ji .. you gave us and the industry , rhythm, style, grace of movement and the art of converting the lyrics in a song to a meaning in dance .. .. on a chance meeting many many years ago she paid me my best compliment .. she was living in Dubai then from marriage and when DON was released she said " I saw the film and then after, I would go to the theatre where it was released, at the time
A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) on
Nimrat Kaur summed up Saroj Khan's legacy in her tweet: "A genius who immortalised stars and the music that defined an era with her iconic work." Choreographer Remo D'Souza described Saroj Khan's death as a "Big loss to dance fraternity." Tributes also poured in from the likes of filmmaker Kunal Kohli, Koena Mitra, Rakul Preet Singh, Tamannaah Bhatia and others. Choreographer Farah Khan tweeted: "Rest in peace Saroj ji.. you were an inspiration to many, myself included."
Saroj Khan choreographed actresses Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit in several iconic dance songs such as Hawa Hawai, Ek Do Teen, Tamma Tamma Loge, Dhak Dhak Karne Laga among others. Songs such as Dola Re Dola and Yeh Ishq Haaye are also witness to some of Saroj Khan's genius choreography.
Saroj Khan is survived by her husband Sohanlal, son Raju, and daughters Hina and Sukanya.