Saroj Khan, who passed away on July 3, 2020, is remembered as one of the finest choreographers Indian cinema has ever produced. Known for creating iconic dance sequences such as 'Ek Do Teen' and 'Dola Re Dola', among countless others, her professional achievements were monumental. However, her personal life was marked by significant struggles and trauma. Despite these challenges, her passion for dance kept her going.
Early Life and Unplanned Entry into Films
Married off at just 13, Saroj Khan later discovered that her marriage was invalid. Forced to take on responsibilities early in life, she never experienced a carefree childhood. Interestingly, her entry into films was not planned but happened purely by chance. Recalling those early days, she 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 with Sohanlal
A pivotal 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 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.'
Finding Stability Later in Life
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 honored 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.
Legacy of a Dance Icon
Saroj Khan's journey from a young girl forced into an invalid marriage to becoming one of Bollywood's most celebrated choreographers is a testament to her resilience and passion. Her work continues to inspire dancers and filmmakers alike, cementing her legacy as a true icon of Indian cinema.
