Latest news with #AaiyeMeherban
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
She revolutionised Bollywood, worked at age 3 for starving family but betrayal, pain and loss followed her
Synopsis Saroj Khan, Bollywood's most celebrated choreographer, led a life marked by hardship, resilience, and artistic brilliance. Born after India's Partition, she began working in films at age three to support her family. At 13, she was unofficially married to a man three decades older who misled and abandoned her. After losing a child, she later embraced Islam, driven by faith and personal loss. Despite her personal struggles, Saroj revolutionised Hindi film choreography, mentoring generations of stars and earning widespread respect before her death in 2020. Saroj Khan's Tumultuous Journey Was From A Child Artiste to Bollywood's Dance Legend Saroj Khan, one of Bollywood's most influential choreographers, lived a life that was as dramatic and layered as the film industry she helped shape. Born in 1948, a year after India's independence, her family had fled Pakistan during Partition, resettling in India under severe financial strain. Saroj lost her father while she was still a child, and by the age of three, she had already entered the film industry—not out of ambition, but out of those difficult early days in a BBC interview, Saroj said her mother would pretend to cook by placing empty pots on the stove, hoping the children would fall asleep thinking food was being prepared. She soon became the primary earner, supporting her siblings and handling family responsibilities even before she was a teenager. Saroj's natural inclination toward dance was initially misunderstood. She would mimic expressions and movements in front of her shadow, leading her worried mother to consult a doctor. The doctor instead suggested cinema, recognizing Saroj's talent and the family's financial need. By age three, she had started acting, often working with actor Balraj the glamour of early stardom faded quickly. By ten, she was deemed too old to play a child and too young for adult roles. She shifted to background dancing and appeared in the song 'Aaiye Meherban' from Howrah Bridge. It was during these years that she met Sohanlal, a much older, already married choreographer. Saroj, only 13 at the time, believed she was married to him when he tied a black thread around her neck—without revealing that he had a wife and four gave birth to a son at 14. Later, she had a daughter who tragically died at eight months old. The experience left a lasting mark. Sohanlal never officially accepted her or their children, and after a brief reunion when he suffered a heart attack—resulting in the birth of their daughter Kuku—he left again, this time for good. Saroj would later speak of the emotional void that pushed her into the relationship, describing Sohanlal as a father figure who became a romantic interest in her 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who was already a father of four. She agreed to the marriage on the condition that he adopt her children. Roshan Khan accepted, and Saroj said he never made her children feel like outsiders. This marriage also marked a spiritual turning point. Born Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal into a Sindhi Punjabi Hindu family, she converted to Islam, stating it was a decision made out of love and faith. She explained in an interview with Doordarshan that her deceased daughter appeared to her in dreams, calling from inside a mosque, which led her to embrace the her personal struggles, Saroj Khan revolutionised Bollywood choreography. In a male-dominated industry, she claimed her space and became the force behind some of Hindi cinema's most iconic dance numbers. From training Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit to choreographing for Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Katrina Kaif, her imprint on Indian cinema is affectionately as 'Masterji,' Saroj transformed dance into a respected profession in Bollywood at a time when choreographers were rarely credited. Her work elevated the importance of song-and-dance sequences and shaped the careers of many leading Khan passed away in 2020 during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film industry mourned deeply, acknowledging her immense contribution. Her choreography remains a benchmark in Hindi cinema, and her story stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, talent, and the pursuit of dignity in an often unforgiving world.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
She revolutionised Bollywood, worked at age 3 for starving family but betrayal, pain and loss followed her
Saroj Khan, one of Bollywood's most influential choreographers, lived a life that was as dramatic and layered as the film industry she helped shape. Born in 1948, a year after India's independence, her family had fled Pakistan during Partition, resettling in India under severe financial strain. Saroj lost her father while she was still a child, and by the age of three, she had already entered the film industry—not out of ambition, but out of necessity. Recalling those difficult early days in a BBC interview, Saroj said her mother would pretend to cook by placing empty pots on the stove, hoping the children would fall asleep thinking food was being prepared. She soon became the primary earner, supporting her siblings and handling family responsibilities even before she was a teenager. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Product Management Technology others Finance Artificial Intelligence Leadership healthcare Data Science Data Science Degree Management Others Healthcare MBA CXO MCA Cybersecurity Public Policy Operations Management Design Thinking Data Analytics Digital Marketing Project Management PGDM Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Childhood Shaped by Dance and Exploitation Saroj's natural inclination toward dance was initially misunderstood. She would mimic expressions and movements in front of her shadow, leading her worried mother to consult a doctor. The doctor instead suggested cinema, recognizing Saroj's talent and the family's financial need. By age three, she had started acting, often working with actor Balraj Sahni. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now But the glamour of early stardom faded quickly. By ten, she was deemed too old to play a child and too young for adult roles. She shifted to background dancing and appeared in the song 'Aaiye Meherban' from Howrah Bridge. It was during these years that she met Sohanlal, a much older, already married choreographer. Saroj, only 13 at the time, believed she was married to him when he tied a black thread around her neck—without revealing that he had a wife and four children. Motherhood, Loss, and Betrayal Saroj gave birth to a son at 14. Later, she had a daughter who tragically died at eight months old. The experience left a lasting mark. Sohanlal never officially accepted her or their children, and after a brief reunion when he suffered a heart attack—resulting in the birth of their daughter Kuku—he left again, this time for good. Saroj would later speak of the emotional void that pushed her into the relationship, describing Sohanlal as a father figure who became a romantic interest in her life. Second Marriage and Spiritual Rebirth In 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who was already a father of four. She agreed to the marriage on the condition that he adopt her children. Roshan Khan accepted, and Saroj said he never made her children feel like outsiders. This marriage also marked a spiritual turning point. Born Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal into a Sindhi Punjabi Hindu family, she converted to Islam, stating it was a decision made out of love and faith. She explained in an interview with Doordarshan that her deceased daughter appeared to her in dreams, calling from inside a mosque, which led her to embrace the religion. A Trailblazing Legacy in Cinema Despite her personal struggles, Saroj Khan revolutionised Bollywood choreography. In a male-dominated industry, she claimed her space and became the force behind some of Hindi cinema's most iconic dance numbers. From training Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit to choreographing for Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Katrina Kaif, her imprint on Indian cinema is unmatched. Known affectionately as 'Masterji,' Saroj transformed dance into a respected profession in Bollywood at a time when choreographers were rarely credited. Her work elevated the importance of song-and-dance sequences and shaped the careers of many leading stars. Saroj Khan passed away in 2020 during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film industry mourned deeply, acknowledging her immense contribution. Her choreography remains a benchmark in Hindi cinema, and her story stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, talent, and the pursuit of dignity in an often unforgiving world.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Saroj Khan got ‘unofficially married' to a 30-year-old man at 13, converted to Islam after her second marriage: 'I went to a mosque on my own'
Indian dance choreographer Saroj Khan , one of the most well-known figures in the industry, had a story that many of her followers rarely knew. She rose to fame by becoming one of the leading choreographers in the industry after experiencing numerous hurdles in both her professional and personal life. Her first marriage ended in trauma, as she lost her child shortly after birth. She once revealed why she got married twice and why she later chose to follow the Islamic faith. Early Struggles After Partition Saroj was born just a year after India gained independence, and her family was forced to start a new life in India after partition. She lost her father at an early age, and the burden of supporting the family fell on her tiny shoulders. Bhushan Kumar announces biopic on late choreographer Saroj Khan In an old interview with the BBC, Saroj revealed that her mother used to put pans on the stove to pretend she was cooking food, hoping the children would fall asleep while waiting. By the age of three, Saroj was already working in films as a child artiste. She remembered frequently acting opposite the legendary actor Balraj Sahni. She also had to look after her brother and sister. She needed to earn money for their education and marriage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo A Childhood Burdened by Responsibility She would often dance alone at home, using her shadow as her partner. But her mother grew worried about her habit of dancing and took her to a doctor, thinking it was a disease. However, the doctor corrected her and suggested she try cinema, which could also help the family financially. Her debut as a background dancer came in the iconic number 'Aaiye Meherban' in Howrah Bridge, starring Madhubala. A Secret Marriage at 13 Saroj met S. Sohanlal, a seasoned choreographer from the South, when she was just 12 years old. He was 30 years her senior, and by the age of 13, she was 'unofficially' married to him. He tied a black thread around her neck without telling her that he was already married and had children. She learned about his marriage only after giving birth to their first child. Personal Tragedy and Betrayal Saroj was just 14 when she gave birth to their son. Later, she had a daughter who tragically passed away at eight months old. The loss deeply affected her, and Sohanlal never officially accepted her. He also refused to acknowledge the fatherhood of their children. He returned to Madras and vanished forever after the loss of their daughter. Finding Love Again In 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who already had children. Their union came with a promise: he would adopt her children. She said, 'He had four children, I had two… I agreed, but on the condition that he adopts my children.' She described him as a caring father figure who never let her children feel excluded. 'My second husband never let my children feel like outsiders… They both loved him very much,' she told DD. Saroj Khan embraced Islam She converted to Islam after marrying Khan. 'I was a Hindu. My name was Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal. We are Sindhi Punjabis. I met my husband, fell in love, and converted. I love Islam. I went to a mosque on my own, changed my religion, and became a Muslim. People have asked me if I was forced. I told them I lost a baby girl, and she would come to me in my dreams, calling for me from inside a mosque…' she shared in an old interview with DD. Saroj passed away in 2020, during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
