Sridevi steps in: steps up! Saroj Khan choreographs!

What a magical moment on Indian film... the cast and crew of Mr.India. The dancers and choregorapher Saroj Khan. 

25 Films Choreographed by Saroj Khan for Sridevi: Dancer and Muse: Teacher and Student: Instructor and Icon

On the birth anniversary of Saroj Khan, Nov 22, we honour the great choreographer for the vast legacy of memorable dances she left behind. A true character and a star of her own right, she changed Indian film choreography and elevated it; many enjoyed it, some criticised it, no one could ignore it. 

As a friend, colleague, critic and fan of Sridevi, she taught and choreographed Sridevi in 25 films. They had ONE fight over the course of a decade and didn't speak to each other for a year - but they long made up for it. Some petty, largely petty and illiterate "fans" have criticised us for writing about Sarojji--with no understanding of the true nature of master and student. "Calm seas never made a good sailor," and an obsequious sycophant could never make a good teacher either. All lengthy, enduring relationships have ups and downs--so did these two. However, their love for each other was palpable - we've archived every moment, clip, quote of Sridevi and Saroj Khan over the years here. And we honour that relationship, not a minor grievance that happened decades ago but for a fleeting moment. When you hear both sides of the story, there's a funny that age does, gives you perspective; both were not wrong, neither were right. It was just circumstances... 

Oh well. Now that both have left their mortal coils, does it really matter? Only their work and legacy will endure.  

Saroj Khan, "Sridevi was a fine person, a good dancer and an excellent actor. Dance came easily and naturally to her. Every time she slipped into a different costume, she appeared different. Such was her magic. Her eyes lit up when she faced the camera. Until then, she was an ordinary* woman. At that point, I'd wonder whether she had understood my instructions or not. But as soon as I said, 'Action!' God knows what happened to her. She was a dream. She was a choreographer's delight. I was the luckiest one, because apart from being such a fine professional, she was a great friend as well."
-- Filmfare, 2018 

 

No.	Year	Movie	Status
1	1986	Karma	Super Hit
2	1986	Nagina	Super Hit
3	1986	Janbaaz	Average
4	1987	Mr. India	Hit
5	1987	Nazrana	Average
6	1988	Ram Avtar	Flop
7	1988	Waqt ki Awaz	Hit
8	1988	Sherni	Flop
9	1988	Sone pe Suhaaga	Average
10	1989	Gair Kanooni	Average
11	1989	Chandni	Hit
12	1989	Chaalbaaz	Hit
13	1989	Nigahein	Average
14	1990	Pathar Ke Insan	Flop
15	1991	Farishtay	Hit
16	1991	Banjaran	Hit
17	1991	Lamhe	Average
18	1992	Khuda Gawah	Hit
19	1993	Roop ki Rani Choron Ka Raja	Flop
20	1993	Gurudev	Average
21	1994	Chand Ka Tukda	Flop
22	1996	Army	Hit
23	1996	Mr. Bechara	Average
24	1997	Judaai	Hit
25	1997	Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha	Flop

Sridevi and Saroj Khan on the sets of Garajna

The cast and crew of Gurudev

Saroj Khan and Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran

Choreographer Saroj Khan with Janhvi Kapoor, Saroj with Sridevi

Choreographer Saroj Khan with Janhvi Kapoor, Saroj with Sridevi 

Sridevi and Saroj Khan on the sets of Banjaran, from the title song and dance picturisation. 

Saroj Khan with Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran

Saroj Khan with Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran back in 1991. 

This was one of the 25 films the choreographer and dancer/actress worked together in. 

A lot is said about the Madhuri Dixit and Saroj collabs - and deservedly so - but unlike la Dixit, Sridevi would often insist on Saroj Khan being the choreographer for her big numbers. 

It was a relationship with lots of ups and downs - just like any long, enduring friendships, there's bound to be a little friction but I'm glad they made up quickly and stayed affectionate till the end. 

Saroj Khan had a complicated life - glad there are quite a few interviews and documentaries about the iconic "dance master" aka choreographer/dance director, who truly elevated the art of film dances. She was truly great, beginning to end; her last number, Tabah ho gayi with Madhuri was a worthy swansong. I believe the last song she directed Sridevi was the truly fabulous Hakka ila re in Kaun Sachcha, Kaun Jhootha. 
 

Saroj Khan, Yash Chopra and Sridevi on the sets of Chandni: Did they know they were making magic?!

Saroj Khan, Yash Chopra and Sridevi on the sets of Chandni: Did they know they were making magic?!

Sridevi at her absolute peak of her epicness.. .

 

Rare pic: Sridevi, Saroj Khan, Rishi Kapoor

Rare still of Sridevi with choreographer Saroj Khan and co-star Rishi Kapoor on the sets of Chandni back in 1989. Incredible find by fans. 

Rare Pic: Saroj Khan with Sridevi on set

Saroj Khan and Sridevi on the sets of Naaka Bandi 

Rare Pic: Saroj Khan with Sridevi on set of Naaka Bandi. 

Excerpt from Filmfare circa 1987-1988

Q: Sometime last year, you were talking about getting into film production. What happened? 

Sridevi: (A slightly disgusted look settles on her face) It fell through. I had never been interested in film production. I knew it would mean endless hassles. But my mummy  was very interested in it. So to indulge her, I agreed. But it's always very different when you're making a film. If it is somebody else's film, its less work. I had signed the best director of the south, the most popular music director Bappi Lahiri, Saroj Khan ,the best choreographer. But there was some problem with the script. It must have been changed at least four times, but I still wasn't very happy with it. Time was passing out and all the star dates that we had taken were getting over. Finally out of sheer desperation, I organised a song sequence. We shot this, and believe me, it was super. But what was the use? The whole idea was scrapped and that beautifully shot song sequence is lying in the cans. 

Will you think of making another film now? Maybe this time in Hindi...

Sridevi: No! Never! 

More images of the film in the archive here.

Sridevi rocking in Chaalbaaz: Rare on set pic with Sunny Deol and Saroj Khan

Sridevi rocking in Chaalbaaz: Rare on set pic with co-star Sunny Deol and choreographer Saroj Khan

Rare Pics: Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi, Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra, Saroj Khan on the sets of Chandni (1989)

 

Rare Pics:  Rishi Kapoor, Sridevi, Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra, Saroj Khan on the sets of Chandni (1989). 

Finding these rare pics are such a treasure for us hardcore Sridevi fans. Ride or die for Sri! 

Saroj Khan with Sridevi on set: The memorable Hawa hawaii in Mr.India

Saroj Khan with Sridevi on set: The memorable Hawa hawaii song and dance routine in Mr.India. Have been thinking of "Dance Master" Saroj this week as the rumours are on fire that Madhuri Dixit may take the lead role in the choreographer's biopic - which is allegedly in the works. 

I have sincere doubts this will come to fruition as Sarojji had an extremely complicated and turbulent life that would make for a fascinating film for sure, but her initial days were a bumpy ride in Bollywood with lots of ups and downs. In hindsight and the lens of wokeness, not all of it is a rosey picture. Hmm. Let's see. 

Saroj Khan choreographed Sridevi in 25 films (not to mention stage shows) and easily did most of Sridevi's top song and dance routines. 

Sridevi and Saroj Khan

Sridevi with her favourite choreographer and "dance master" Saroj Khan 
 

Rare Stills: Sridevi with Yash Chopra and Saroj Khan on the sets of her iconic Chandni (1989)

Rare Stills: Sridevi with Yash Chopra and Saroj Khan on the sets of her iconic Chandni (1989)

Rare pics: Sridevi with her choreographer Saroj Khan

 

Rare pics: Sridevi with her choreographer Saroj Khan 

Saroj Khan on Sridevi's last dance on screen: She was Bollywood's Greatest

With Navrai Majhi, the actress parades those killer moves again onscreen after fifteen years. And if some were disenchanted that it was not a fully-blown Sridevi dance, Saroj Khan points out why it was even more miraculous : "Despite being one of Bollywood's greatest dancers, she deliberately dances in an awkward manner here because that is exactly how a housewife like Shashi would do. Navrai Majhi is not a dance but a performance like all her songs always were. Sri curbs her dancing skills and creates an illusion that she can't dance. For her, the character she was portraying was always more important than the star image and that made her special."

Mithun and Sridevi outtakes from the set of Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)

Released in the summer of 1988 - 34 years ago today - these rare images of 80s Bollywood megastars Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi during the making of a song are too sweet. 

Cute outtakes from the set of Waqt Ki Awaz - critically, the movie is no great shakes, at the box office however, it was a smash hit.  

TBT: Sridevi on the sets of films: Behind the scenes of Farishtay, Tohfa, Banjaran, Pukar

Saroj Khan, Sridevi and Harmesh Malhotra on the sets of Banjaran (1991)

Boney Kapoor, Sridevi and Lata Mangeshkar on the sets of Pukar (2000)

 

TBT: Sridevi on the sets of films: Behind the scenes of Farishtay, Tohfa, Banjaran, Pukar

Saroj Khan: The Sage age of Rage: Khan's battle royale with Rekha, Sridevi, Raveena Tandon, Amitabh Bachchan...

Found this vintage feature about Rekha and Saroj Khan's alleged disputes - and it made me think about other controversies with Khan. And there are plenty... 

There are a few odd ducks out there who quack on about how we shouldn't feature Saroj Khan here on account of a video that's online where she had a few things to say about Sridevi... 

If you know your Bollywood history, Saroj Khan has had a war of words with just about everyone over the course of her illustrious career - Khan did not suffer fools - and she certainly didn't suffer star-kids or starry tantrums. Be it Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Shahrukh Khan, Rekha, producers and directors like Ram Gopal Verma, Subash Ghai, Saawan Kumar Tak, Masterji was not afraid to call a spade a spade. If you Google and have an archive of Bollywood magazines (like I do), there are frequent articles and war of words with Khan and other celebs. Yeah she had a tiff with soft-spoken, shy Sridevi too. 

Well, fact of the matter is no relationship that has endured for decades runs smooth. Saroj Khan had a volatile relationship filled with ups and downs with every major (and minor!) star. 

Sridevi and Saroj Khan on the sets of Banjaran

Don't forget - she was a dance teacher. Ever had a teacher - esp in India - who didn't raise his/her voice?! 

Sarojji was senior to all the stars - except perhaps Vyjanthimala or Nutan, both of who she choreographed. If she said a few off the cuff things to say to anyone, be it in person or in print, it all needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Nothing Sarojji said was particularly malicious, vicious or mean-spirited. 

Smooth seas don't make skilled sailors. Sridevi's dances with Saroj Khan - after umpteen rehearsals - are tiers above what Sridevi did in the past. As Sridevi herself said, she was an unlearned dancer, everything was taught to her on set  - Sri's dances improved vastly under Khan's guidance and strict tutelage. 

Sridevi and Saroj Khan on the sets of Lamhe

The relationship with Sridevi and Saroj Khan may have wavered but they remained tight till the very end. We have so many clips of Sridevi and Saroj Khan meeting with such warmth and affection after their alleged spat - and Saroj seemed genuinely devastated when Sridevi passed so tragically. 

There are no enduring friends or enemies in the Indian film industry. If we see films as a reflection of society, well then, there are no enduring friends or enemies in life either... 

Hell, even Jaya Prada (who genuinely said a lottttttttttt of awful things about Sri over the years), recanted her vitriol. At least Devi and Khan had a Guru-shishya relationship for decades. 

The tu-tu-main-main will be long forgotten. The legacy will endure. All those magical dances, the songs, those expressions... 

Sridevi and Saroj Khan: Silver Jubilee of films: 25 movies together

 Saroj Khan choreographed Sridevi in;

1. Karma (1986)
2. Nagina (1986)
3. Janbaaz (1986)
4. Mr.India (1987)
5. Nazrana (1987)
6. Ram Avtar (1988)
7. Waqt ki Awaz (1988)
8. Sherni (1988)
9. Sone pe Suhaaga (1988)
10. Gair Kanooni (1989)
11. Chandni (1989)
12. Chaalbaaz (1989)
13. Nigahein (1989)
14. Pathar Ke Insan (1990)
15. Farishtay (1991)
16. Banjaran (1991)
17. Lamhe (1991)
18. Khuda Gawah (1992)
19. Roop ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)
20. Gurudev (1993)
21. Chand Ka Tukda (1994)
22. Army (1996)
23. Mr.Bechara (1996)
24. Judaai (1997)
25. Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha (1997)

Rare Pics: Boney Kapoor released archival images of Sridevi , Anil Kapoor, Saroj Khan from the sets of Mr.India

Rare Pics: Boney Kapoor released archival images of Sridevi , Anil Kapoor, Saroj Khan from the sets of Mr.India. 

Just when you think we've archived every known image of Sridevi, we love to find rarely seen (the phrase 'unseen' is incorrect and quite frankly ingratiatingly stupid) images of Sridevi from the archives. 

You've seen variations of the above images I'm sure, but not these exact ones - as released by Boney Kapoor on his official Instagram. 

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