She revolutionised Bollywood, worked at age 3 for starving family but betrayal, pain and loss followed her

Economic Times

19-07-2025

Synopsis
Saroj Khan, Bollywood's most celebrated choreographer, led a life marked by hardship, resilience, and artistic brilliance. Born after India's Partition, she began working in films at age three to support her family. At 13, she was unofficially married to a man three decades older who misled and abandoned her. After losing a child, she later embraced Islam, driven by faith and personal loss. Despite her personal struggles, Saroj revolutionised Hindi film choreography, mentoring generations of stars and earning widespread respect before her death in 2020.
Saroj Khan's Tumultuous Journey Was From A Child Artiste to Bollywood's Dance Legend Saroj Khan, one of Bollywood's most influential choreographers, lived a life that was as dramatic and layered as the film industry she helped shape. Born in 1948, a year after India's independence, her family had fled Pakistan during Partition, resettling in India under severe financial strain. Saroj lost her father while she was still a child, and by the age of three, she had already entered the film industry—not out of ambition, but out of necessity.Recalling those difficult early days in a BBC interview, Saroj said her mother would pretend to cook by placing empty pots on the stove, hoping the children would fall asleep thinking food was being prepared. She soon became the primary earner, supporting her siblings and handling family responsibilities even before she was a teenager.
Saroj's natural inclination toward dance was initially misunderstood. She would mimic expressions and movements in front of her shadow, leading her worried mother to consult a doctor. The doctor instead suggested cinema, recognizing Saroj's talent and the family's financial need. By age three, she had started acting, often working with actor Balraj Sahni.But the glamour of early stardom faded quickly. By ten, she was deemed too old to play a child and too young for adult roles. She shifted to background dancing and appeared in the song 'Aaiye Meherban' from Howrah Bridge. It was during these years that she met Sohanlal, a much older, already married choreographer. Saroj, only 13 at the time, believed she was married to him when he tied a black thread around her neck—without revealing that he had a wife and four children.Saroj gave birth to a son at 14. Later, she had a daughter who tragically died at eight months old. The experience left a lasting mark. Sohanlal never officially accepted her or their children, and after a brief reunion when he suffered a heart attack—resulting in the birth of their daughter Kuku—he left again, this time for good. Saroj would later speak of the emotional void that pushed her into the relationship, describing Sohanlal as a father figure who became a romantic interest in her life.In 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who was already a father of four. She agreed to the marriage on the condition that he adopt her children. Roshan Khan accepted, and Saroj said he never made her children feel like outsiders. This marriage also marked a spiritual turning point. Born Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal into a Sindhi Punjabi Hindu family, she converted to Islam, stating it was a decision made out of love and faith. She explained in an interview with Doordarshan that her deceased daughter appeared to her in dreams, calling from inside a mosque, which led her to embrace the religion.Despite her personal struggles, Saroj Khan revolutionised Bollywood choreography. In a male-dominated industry, she claimed her space and became the force behind some of Hindi cinema's most iconic dance numbers. From training Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit to choreographing for Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Katrina Kaif, her imprint on Indian cinema is unmatched.Known affectionately as 'Masterji,' Saroj transformed dance into a respected profession in Bollywood at a time when choreographers were rarely credited. Her work elevated the importance of song-and-dance sequences and shaped the careers of many leading stars.Saroj Khan passed away in 2020 during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film industry mourned deeply, acknowledging her immense contribution. Her choreography remains a benchmark in Hindi cinema, and her story stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, talent, and the pursuit of dignity in an often unforgiving world.