Bollywood's ace choreographer, Saroj Khan, passed away on July 3, 2020, due to a cardiac arrest. The entire Hindi movie industry lost a gem who had immensely contributed to Indian cinema. 'Master Ji' had choreographed more than 2000 songs, and some of the chart-buster hits were Hawa Hawai, Ek Do Teen and Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai. She had a 40-year-long career, and many insiders said Saroj was rude or had a strict behaviour. Terence Lewis, a famous choreographer in Bollywood, had revealed why the late Saroj Khan behaved strictly.
During an interview with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa on their podcast show, Bharti TV Clips, Terence revealed Saroj's personality. He had given a befitting reply to people questioning Saroj Khan's nature. In his words:
"People who questioned, ‘Why does she behave so rudely’, they need to know it is extremely difficult for women to work in this industry where it is dominated with men. They have to be rough and strong. The ruthlessness of the industry kills the women in them. They have to turn into men to survive in the industry."
Terence, who has been in the industry for a decade, also added that male choreographers are calmer than female choreographers. This is because female choreographers must prove their worth in the industry and show they cannot be taken lightly. Terence also added that they do not have to do that much, but women must prove themselves in a male-dominated industry. He added:
"It’s a sad thing. People have killed the women in them. This is why they even behave, walk and talk like men."
Terence had expressed grief over the demise of Saroj Khan back in 2020. He had taken to his Instagram handle to call her an 'Iron Lady' who was not afraid to call a spade a spade. He also wrote that she was the only choreographer in the 80's, 90s & early 2000's, when producers and superstars had a fear of Saroj. Terence admired her grasp over the music's mood and her ability to interpret lyrics through dance and movement, transforming music and poetry into heightened visual art. A part of Terence's tribute also read:
"She was truly the Fosse of Bollywood! Both embodied the philosophy that 'less is more' and her strongest suit was her ability to extract from her artist, their most beautiful version of themselves and make them caress the lens with subtle intimacy, giving the audience an immersive experience. She truly set gold standards in choreography for her genre!"
Saroj Khan was born on November 22, 1948, in Bombay, to a Hindu family. Her original name was Nirmala Nagpal. Her parents changed her name from Nirmala to Saroj before she entered the film industry. This was because her family was orthodox and did not want anyone to know that she worked in the movie line.
Do you agree with Terence Lewis' views on Saroj Khan?
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