Mumbai: Bollywood’s ace choreographer Saroj Khan passed away in Mumbai on Friday.
She was 72. She was suffering from multiple ailments and passed away from a heart attack. She was admitted to a hospital since June 17 – and she tested negative for a mandatory Covid-19 test.
Popularly known as Master Ji, 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.
She learnt to 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).
She became popular 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)[3] and nd Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in Beta (1992).
In 2014, Khan worked with Madhuri Dixit again in Gulaab Gang. She also appeared as judge in reality shows.
In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2,000 songs, including Dola Re Dola from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas, Ek Do Teen from Madhuri Dixit-starrer Tezaab and Ye Ishq Haaye from Jab We Met in 2007.
She last choreographed for Tabaah Hogaye, featuring Madhuri from filmmaker Karan Johar’s production Kalank in 2019.
