Saroj Khan: The Legendary Choreographer's Journey Through Triumph and Tragedy

Saroj Khan, who passed away on July 3, 2020, was considered one of the best choreographers that Indian cinema ever saw. Known for creating unforgettable dance sequences like 'Ek Do Teen' and 'Dola Re Dola', among many others, her professional achievements were monumental, but her personal life saw a lot of struggles and trauma. Yet, it was her passion for dance that kept her going. She was married off at just 13, only to later discover that the marriage was invalid. Forced to take on responsibilities early in life, she never had the chance to experience a carefree childhood. Interestingly, her entry into films was not planned but happened purely by chance.

Recalling those early days, she had said in an interview with Koshish Se Kaamyaabi Tak, "My father had died, and I had to keep the home running. I became a group dancer. I was studying and wanted to become a doctor, but God had other plans."

A defining moment in her journey came when she caught the attention of noted dance director Sohanlal on a film set. He noticed that she was not only performing her assigned steps but also flawlessly matching those of dancer Helen. When asked to perform the entire routine, she did so with confidence, earning herself a position as his assistant at the age of just 12.

However, her association with Sohanlal soon took a complicated turn. At 13, she married him, despite him being three decades older, only to later discover that he was already married and had four children, rendering their union unlawful. By the age of 14, she was expecting her first child. Reflecting on that phase in an interview with the BBC, she said, "I did not know what marriage meant at that time. He just put a black thread around my neck one day and I thought I was married."

Years later, in 1975, she found companionship again with businessman Sardar Roshan Khan, who proposed to her. She agreed to marry him on the condition that he would accept and adopt her children from her previous relationship. A Punjabi Hindu by birth, Saroj Khan embraced Islam after marriage, as he honoured her request.

Despite finding stability later in life, personal loss continued to shadow her. From her first marriage, she suffered the heartbreaking loss of a baby girl who passed away within eight months of birth.