Mumbai: National Award-winning choreographer Saroj Khan passed away in Mumbai in the wee hours of today. Saroj’s daughter Sukaina Khan confirmed the news. In a career spanning 40 years, she choreographed nearly 2,000 songs. Her most successful collaborations were with actors Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit.

She was fondly known as “Masterji” and was admitted to Mumbai’s Guru Nanak Hospital on June 20 after complaining of difficulty in breathing and died of cardiac arrest. She was 71. The three-time National Award winner had choreographed some of the most memorable songs in Hindi cinema. The mandatory COVID-19 test done at the hospital showed a negative result.

Born as Nirmala Nagpal, Saroj Khan began her career by  playing the young Shyama onscreen in “Nazarana.” She soon became a background dancer under the mentorship of dance director B. Sohanlal. After assisting as a dance choreographer for a few years, her first independent work came in “Geeta Mera Naam” (1974). 

Saroj got noticed after she choreographed for Sridevi in “Mr. India’s” song “Hawa Hawai” (1987). She worked with Sridevi in films like “Nagina” and “Chandni.” This was followed by her long-term partnership with Madhuri Dixit in 1990s in songs like “Ek Do Teen”, “Hum Ko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar”, “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga”, “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” and “Tamma Tamma.”

Saroj’s other popular films include “Baazigar”, “Mohra”, “Darr”, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, “Taal”, “Veer-Zaara”, “Pardes”, “Soldier”, “Don”, “Saawariya”, “Lagaan”, “Tanu Weds Manu Returns”, “Manikarnika” among more. 

She has won awards for “Devdas”, “Jab We Met”, “Guru”, “Khalnayak”, “Chaalbaaz” and others. The choreographer has also judged dance reality shows like “Nach Baliye”, “Ustaadon Ka Ustaad”, “Boogie Woogie” and “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa”. Her last work was the song “Tabaah Ho Gaye” from “Kalank” (2019) which was filmed on Madhuri Dixit.