The life of Bollywood’s legendary choreographer Saroj Khan was a tapestry of triumphs and profound personal challenges, including a “marriage” at 13, the heartbreak of losing children, and a spiritual conversion, all while she reshaped Indian cinema’s dance landscape.
Early Life of Struggle and Talent
Born just a year after India’s independence, Saroj Khan endured immense hardship from a very young age. Her family, having fled Pakistan, often faced poverty so severe that her mother would pretend to cook to lull her children to sleep.
Saroj’s natural inclination towards dance was initially mistaken for mental distress by her parents. However, a doctor advised that her passion be nurtured, suggesting she enter the film industry as a child artist to help her struggling family. She became the sole breadwinner, working with stars like Balraj Sahni.
By age 10, Saroj found herself in a transitional phase, no longer a child artist but not yet an adult star. This pushed her to pursue her true calling: dance. She transitioned to a background dancer, making her debut in the iconic song “Aaiye Meherban” from *Howrah Bridge*.
A Tumultuous First “Marriage”
While establishing herself in dance, Saroj encountered S Sohanlal, a revered dance master three decades her senior and already married with four children. At just 13, she entered into a “marriage” with him, later giving birth to a son at 14.
She recalled being drawn to Sohanlal as a father figure, seeking security after her own father’s passing. She was unaware of his existing marriage until after her first child was born. Their union ended amicably when he refused to acknowledge their children.
Tragedy struck when their infant daughter died at eight months old. This profound loss would later become a pivotal moment, shaping Saroj’s spiritual journey and influencing her decision to convert to Islam. Years later, she had another daughter, Kuku, conceived during a brief reunion with Sohanlal when he suffered a heart attack.
Finding Faith and Family
In 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who also had a previous marriage and children. Her condition for marriage was that he adopt her children, ensuring they felt legitimate and loved.
Saroj, originally a Hindu named Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal, converted to Islam by choice. She revealed that after her infant daughter’s death, she repeatedly had dreams of the child calling to her from inside a mosque, leading her to embrace the faith.
A Lasting Legacy
Saroj Khan passed away in 2020, leaving behind an indelible mark on Indian cinema. She revolutionized Bollywood choreography, moving beyond simple sequences to create intricate, expressive dances that became a hallmark of Hindi films.
She mentored and choreographed multiple generations of actors, from Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Raveena Tandon, shaping the dance sensibilities of an entire industry.
- Saroj Khan “married” at 13 to her dance teacher, who was 30 years her senior and already married.
- She lost two children, including an infant daughter whose death profoundly influenced her spiritual path.
- She converted to Islam after experiencing recurring dreams of her deceased daughter calling to her from within a mosque.
- Saroj Khan is credited with professionalizing and transforming Bollywood dance choreography, leaving an unmatched legacy.
Her extraordinary life story, marked by resilience and a deep connection to her art, continues to inspire and resonate within and beyond the film world.
