Veteran Bollywood dance choreographer Saroj Khan, who has worked in some southern movies too, died at a Mumbai hospital early today. She had complained of breathing difficulties and has been in the hospital since 17 June.
She died due to a cardiac arrest in the ICU of Guru Nanak Hospital where she was admitted on June 20 after she complained of breathing issues. The last rites of Saroj Khan will be peformed at Malvani in Malad, Mumbai today.
Akshay Kumar posted, “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.”
Actor Niel Nitin Mukesh stated, “Really sad to hear that Saroj Khan ji is no more between us. Her Grace , her simplicity her iconic moves and her legacy are immortalised. My condolences with Raju sir, and entire family. #RipSarojKhan.”
Director-choreographer Remo D’Souza tweeted: “#RIP SAROJI YOU WILL BE MISSED …. big loss to dance fraternity.”
Nirmala Nagpal, popularly known as Saroj Khan was one of the most prominent Indian dance choreographers in Hindi cinema. She was born at the Bombay State (present day Maharashtra), India.
With a career span of over forty years, she choreographed more than 2000 songs and is known as “The Mother of Dance/Choreography in India”. She learnt dance while working under film choreographer B Sohanlal.
Later, she herself shifted to choreography, first as an assistant choreographer and later getting her break as an independent choreographer, with ‘Geeta Mera Naam’ (1974).
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.
In 2014, Khan worked with Madhuri Dixit again in ‘Gulaab Gang’. She was on the advisory board of Rishihood University.
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