When Saroj Khan’s Obsession To Dance Was Mistaken For A Mental Disorder

Saroj Khan, born as Nirmala, came from a family that was once well-off but lost everything during the India-Pakistan partition and eventually settled in Mumbai. Recalling her family's struggles, Saroj Khan once shared, “My parents moved to India from Pakistan after the partition. My father, Kishanchand Sadhu Singh, was a Punjabi, while my mother, Noni, was a Sindhi. My father had a flourishing business in Pakistan, but he had to leave everything behind when he came to India. I was born in India.”

The Inspiring Journey of Saroj Khan

As a child, Saroj's fascination with dance was evident when her mother observed her imitating her shadow's movements. Initially mistaking this for a mental condition, her mother sought medical advice. A doctor suggested nurturing her talent in films instead. This marked the beginning of Saroj’s film career at the tender age of three, debuting as a child artiste in the movie Nazrana.

Khan gradually moved from being a background dancer to a group dancer and eventually became an assistant choreographer under the guidance of the renowned B. Sohanlal, who also became her mentor. During her time with Sohanlal, she developed feelings for him and married him at the age of 13, unaware of his previous marriage and children. Her world changed when she gave birth to her first child, Raju Khan, at 14 and learned about Sohanlal's existing family. Despite the challenges, she raised her children as a single mother after Sohanlal refused to acknowledge them.

Reflecting on this period, she told Rediff in a 2012 interview, “At the age of 14, I had a relationship with Sohan Lal, who was 43 then. I had two children with him, Raju Khan, who is a choreographer, and Cuckoo Khan, who died of liver complications. Since Lal was not ready to give my kids his name, I married a Pathan and had one child by him.”

Her life found stability when she met Sardar Roshan Khan, a businessman who accepted her children and provided a secure home. They married in 1975, and Saroj shared a harmonious relationship with his first wife, living together like sisters.

Saroj’s professional career took off in the late 1980s, thanks to her iconic choreography for songs like Hawa Hawai in Mr. India and Madhuri Dixit's memorable numbers such as Ek Do Teen from Tezaab and Dhak Dhak Karne Laga.

Her work earned her the first-ever Filmfare Best Choreography Award, a category created after her outstanding choreography in Tezaab. Her choreography for hit songs like Na Jaane Kahaan Se from Chaalbaaz (1989), Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast from Mohra (1994), and Yeh Ishq Haaye from Jab We Met (2008) solidified her reputation as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated choreographers.

Khan passed away in July 2020 and was laid to rest in a cemetery in Mumbai’s Malad area. Her journey from a child artist to one of the most respected choreographers in Bollywood remains a testament to her talent, resilience, and passion for dance.

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