Late Saroj Khan On Bollywood's Best Dancers: 'Madhuri Dixit Couldn't Shake Her Hips', 'Sridevi's Eyes Lit Up In Front Of Camera, Until Then She Was A Dead Woman'

When late choreographer Saroj Khan spoke about her work experience with B-town’s best dancers Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

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Late Saroj Khan On Bollywood's Best Dancers: 'Madhuri Dixit Couldn't Shake Her Hips', 'Sridevi's Eyes Lit Up In Front Of Camera, Until Then She Was A Dead Woman'
Saroj Khan passing away today left industry mourning once again. Bollywood has lost a gem which gave a new definition to the word ‘dance, in her career which spanned over for 40 years. With the ace choreographer leaving for heavenly abode, many throwback videos and archival content surfaced on the internet, mentioning about Saroj’s collaborations with some of best dancers in Bollywood. The list includes Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. During her various publications, she spoke about how each one of them has something special, making them distinctive. 

Madhuri and Saroj bonded like an artiste and his muse, they extensively worked together, ultimately letting Madhuri achieve the title of the dancing diva in Bollywood. In a throwback interview with Mirror Online, choreographer had mentioned though Madhuri grasped dance moves quickly being a trained Kathak dancer; she could not shake her hip. But Madhuri was the best student, shared the choreographer. Also she recalled the days when Madhuri practiced for 17 days to get her Ek Do Teen act on point despite Saroj Khan appreciating her on the 10th day for getting it right. 

Saroj Khan was quoted saying, “Madhuri could pick up dance steps easily, she was a trained Kathak dancer and learnt for 12 years. But, the problem was she couldn’t shake her hips. In Kathak, you don’t shake your hip. The film we did together was Subhas Ghai’s Uttar Dakshin. From there our journey started and I started teaching her. She was a little slow in the beginning but she got the heck of it. Madhuri used to copy me to the tee. Ek Do Teen was the best performance of Madhuri and it established her as a dancer. We have a beautiful journey together and Madhuri was the best student I have ever come across.”


Adding further she says, “She has a charming smile. But if you smile every time unnecessarily, you lose the charm. Only certain places where it was required, we would tell her to smile. She obeyed very well, If I say, if the hand goes to a certain place, no matter how many takes we do, the hand will come there only. Madhuri practised for Ek Do Teen diligently. She practised for 17 days. On the 10th day, I told her that she is perfect and can relax. She refused and stressed to practice more.”

Speaking about Sridevi,  Saroj Khan mentioned the excellent diva was like a dead woman off screen, but as soon as the word action was heard, she just lit the screen like it was some kind of magic.  ALSO READ: Saroj Khan Demise: No Prayer Meet To Be Held Due To COVID-19; ‘Will Meet And Celebrate Her Life When Situation Improves,' Says Family

Saroj Khan was quoted saying by Filmfare, “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 a dead woman. At that point, I’d wonder whether she had understood my instructions or not. But as soon as soon as I said ‘action’, God knows what happened to her. She was a dream. She was a choreographer’s delight.”


Followed by talking about Hrithik Roshan she mentioned of the star being born with excellent dancing skills. Praising him and gushing over him she said, “Hrithik [Roshan] is such a perfect dancer that even the choreographers take time to think about what to give him. But sometimes you wish he makes a mistake. He’s too perfect a dancer. Because watching him, you’ll only watch [stares open-mouthed] -- like that -- whereas, say Amitabh Bachchan, if he gets up and does 1-2-3 you feel like getting up and, you also want to do it. I am praising him [Hrithik] and I am giving him a little on the wrong side also. Because I don’t find any fault in him. He’s like a born dancer. He doesn’t need anybody. He can do it himself.” ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan's Heartbreaking Words On Recent Unfortunate Deaths In Bollywood; 'Day By Day, They Go Away, I Shall End The DAY For Now'


And finally praising the gorgeous diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during her conversation with rediff.com, she said, “Aishwarya is a graceful dancer, and God has given her out-of-the-world beauty. She is very obedient.”





Image Source: Instagram/madhuridixitnene/sarojkhanofficial/sridevi.kapoor