Saroj Khan is a very talented danseuse who has redefined the art of dancing in the Indian film Industry. This great dancer was born in the year 1950 and has choreographed more than 200 films. In fact, she had the whole industry dancing on her moves for a score of years. Later she was set to venture out into something other than this creative art, as it is believed that she achieved her creative satisfaction from this art form.

Acting Career of Saroj Khan
She has been offered a full-fledged role in the directorial venture of the very popular and talented Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah `Yun Hota to Kya Hota`. She accepted it immediately. Though the film did not do well her performance was highly acclaimed. In this movie she played the role of a mother who is well versed with the underworld. This unusual character has made Saroj Khan all excited about the role and also because she would be working with such a veteran artist Naseeruddin Shah. The choreographer-turned-actress remarked in an interview that when the role was offered to her she was unsure who she was. She was so serious about her acting that she asked the actor-turned-director to replace her if she was not happy with her performance. Fortunately the director did not have to do anything like that.

It is believed that the producer of the movie Shabbir Boxwala desired to cast a very powerful looking woman for the role and he was sure that the personality of Saroj Khan would suit the role best and so he offered the role to her. Saroj thought of giving her acting flair a try with the hope that it would work out well. It is evident that it did not disappoint her.

Choreography Career of Saroj Khan
Her dancing talents have made her won worldwide recognition. She is regarded to be the dancing queen and is believed that she can even make the worst dancer shake their hips. It is true that none can make the Bollywood stars dance so gracefully to the tunes as it she does it. When one see her dancing to the melodious lyrics or the drum beats one can`t just help but let one`s heart go gaga over this talented artist. She moved to choreography, first as an assistant choreographer and later getting her break as an independent choreographer, with Sadhana Shivdasani`s Geeta Mera Naam (1974). However, she had to wait many years to receive acclaim, which came to her by working with Sridevi; Hawa Hawai in Mr India (1987), Main Teri Dushman, Dushman Tu Mera in Nagina (1986) and Mere Haathon Mein in Chandni (1989), and later with Madhuri Dixit, starting with the hit Ek Do Teen in Tezaab (1988), Tamma Tamma Loge in Thanedaar (1990) and Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in Beta (1992). Thereafter, she went on to become one of the most successful Bollywood choreographers. Then she worked in The `Jalwa` number of Madhuri Dixit in the Bollywood chartbuster Devdas titled Maar daala or the peppy Aishwarya number in `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam` titled `Khatta nimbuda`. She has also extracted a remarkable performance out of another Bollywood bombshell Kareena Kapoor in the award-winning Bollywood chartbuster film `Chameli`. In `Jab We Met` the pair of Kareena Kapoor and Saroj Khan have once again come together to create magic on-screen with the popular number `Yeh Ishq`. Sometime back she was also sentimental about the popular filmmaker Farhan Akhtar`s super hit movie `Don`. In 1978 "Don" inspired her to take up choreography as career. She was exhilarated when for the same number she got the offer from Farhan Akhtar to choreograph the song. She also claimed in a recent interview that she had a whale of a time flying down to Malaysia making the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and the attractive and charming film actress Priyanka Chopra dance to the tune of the modern version of the same number. The song in fact got rave reviews even before the official video was released.

Achievements of Saroj Khan
Saroj Khan has also won many awards for her dancing capabilities. She has been receiving Best Choreographer Awards in many national as well as international awards ceremonies since a long time. In fact, there was a time when she monopolized the stage for choreography.

Filmfare Best Choreography Award

2008 Guru for the song "Barso Re"
2003 Devdas for the song "Dola Re Dola"
2000 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam for the song "Nimbooda Nimbooda"
1994 Khalnayak for the song "Choli Ke Peeche"
1993 Beta for the song "Dhak Dhak Karne Laga"
1991 Sailaab for the song "Humko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar"
1990 ChaalBaaz for the song "Na Jaane Kahan Se"
1989 Tezaab for the song "Ek Do Teen"
American Choreography Award
2002: Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
Nandi Awards
1998: Nandi Award for Best Choreographer: Choodalani Vundi
Zee Cine Award for Best Choreography 2003 – Devdas for the song "Dola Re Dola" Kalakar Awards 2011: 19th Annual Kalakar Achiever Award for Outstanding Contribution in Dance Choreography IIFA Awards 2000: IIFA Award for Best Choreography for the song "Nimbooda Nimbooda" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2019: IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award Personal Life of Saroj Khan Born Nirmala Nagpal, her parents Kishanchand Sadhu Singh and Noni Singh migrated to India after partition of India. She started her career as a child artist at the age of three with the film Nazarana as baby Shyama, and was a background dancer in the late 1950s. She learnt dance while working under film choreographer B. Sohanlal, whom she married at the age of 13 while he was 43 years and was already married with 4 children which she did not know at the time of marriage. After having three children (including one that died as an infant), the couple separated. After their separation, she married businessman Sardar Roshan Khan in 1975 and changed her name after converting to Islam. The couple have one child together, a daughter, Sukaina khan, who is known to run a dance institute in Dubai.

Death of Saroj Khan
Saroj Khan was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital at Bandra, Mumbai on 17 June 2020, because of breathing difficulties. She died of cardiac arrest on 3 July 2020 at the age of 71.