Late Bollywood legend Saroj Khan's Dubai connection

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan recollects his meeting with the late choreographer in his Instagram post

The news of the passing away of ace Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan at the age of 71 in Mumbai was met with sadness by industry members.
Amitabh Bachchan wrote a heartfelt post on Instagram, recollecting his early days as a rising star and also how he received his 'best compliment' from Khan when she was living in Dubai.
The late choreographer also had a dance institute in Satwa named after her - Saroj Khan Dance Academy - which was managed by her daughter Sukaina Khan according to her LinkedIn profile.

 

 

 

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You rest .. you rest well .. you rise .. you realise the hours .. you seek the elixir .. you devour .. you get to connect .. . and .. .. you be informed in this communicative world .. Saroj Khan has died .. .. and an entire history of time races before you in the cerebrum .. She was a sprightly young enthusiastic dance assistant to one of the major dance directors of the time .. of the time when I was just beginning .. of the film 'Bandhe Haath' with the heart throb of millions Mumtaz .. with the director OP Ralhan .. Mumtaz's grace and acceptance to agree to work with this newbe .. she a stratospheric Star , me a nobody .. .. and Saroj ji in the crowd of dancers in a song .. her subtle grace when she moved .. at one point I saw her , quite alarmingly , finding the foetus had shifted in her stomach and she simply unabashedly pushed it into place , and carried on .. dancing .. .. and then over the years .. she excelled and attained the podium title of Dance Director .. or as the language changed , the Choreographer of film .. her moves becoming famous for each artist she worked with .. and when she would see an artist give a good shot under her care .. she would call her or him aside .. and .. .. give a rupee coin .. as a gesture .. as a pat on the back .. a 'shagun' .. .. many many years later .. during the song sequence of a film I was doing .. I became the recipient of that coin .. an immense achievement .. Saroj ji .. you gave us and the industry , rhythm, style, grace of movement and the art of converting the lyrics in a song to a meaning in dance .. .. on a chance meeting many many years ago she paid me my best compliment .. she was living in Dubai then from marriage and when DON was released she said " I saw the film and then after, I would go to the theatre where it was released, at the time when your song 'khaike paan.. was on , see it and come out .. I used to do it regularly every day .. I would tell the usher to let me in just to see the song and leave .. that is how much I enjoyed your dance moves .." !! coming from her was the ultimate .. .. a legacy has passed away .. ??
A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) on Jul 2, 2020 at 10:41pm PDT

Narrating an incident from the past, Bachchan recalled how he got one of his best compliments from her. "On a chance meeting many many years ago, she paid me my best compliment. She was living in Dubai then and when Don was released she said, "I saw the film and then I would go to the theatre where it was released, at the time when your song Khaike Paan.. was on, see it and come out. I used to do it regularly every day. I would tell the usher to let me in just to see the song and leave, that is how much I enjoyed your dance moves."
Bachchan, in his note, also recollected an incident from his early days in Bollywood, on the sets of a movie in which veteran star Mumtaz was playing the lead and Khan was a dance assistant.
"She was a sprightly young enthusiastic dance assistant to one of the major dance directors of the time, of the time when I was just beginning... of the film Bandhe Haath with the heartthrob of millions Mumtaz... with the director OP Ralhan. Mumtaz's grace and acceptance to agree to work with this newbie... she a stratospheric Star, me a nobody..."
"And Saroj ji in the crowd of dancers in a song .. her subtle grace when she moved. At one point I saw her, quite alarmingly, finding the foetus had shifted in her stomach and she simply unabashedly pushed it into place and carried on dancing," the star added.
The veteran actor recalled how the dance director would give a 'shagun' (an auspicious symbol) to her stars after a successful dance shot and how even he was a recipient of the rupee coin once.
"And then over the years she excelled and attained the podium title of Dance Director. As the language changed, the choreographer of film, her moves becoming famous for each artiste she worked with and when she would see an artiste give a good shot under her care she would call her or him aside and give a rupee coin as a gesture, as a pat on the back - a 'shagun'".
"Many many years later during the song sequence of a film I was doing I became the recipient of that coin, an immense achievement."
"Saroj ji, you gave us and the industry, rhythm, style, grace of movement and the art of converting the lyrics in a song to meaning in dance," Bachchan added.