'A song with her often became real art': Saif Ali Khan opens up on Saroj Khan's death

Actor Saif Ali Khan says it won't be possible to listen to a Hindi film song without ackwledging legacy of ace choreographer Saroj Khan, who made biggest names in Bollywood dance to her tunes. Khan, name behind some of most famous songs in Bollywood such as "Dhak Dhak" and "Ek Do Teen", died d 71 of cardiac arrest early on Friday morning.

Calling three-time National Award winner "greatest and most artistic choreographer", Saif said how her name attached to a project was merit eugh for producers.

"A song with her often became real art, with every beat and step requiring an emotion and expression... That era is gone and that music is over. But for all of us who have had privilege of being instructed on set by that great lady, will never be able to hear a Hindi film song without thinking of how she has made greatest names in Bollywood from Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi to Shah Rukh khan and Madhuri Dixit, dance to her tunes," Saif said in a statement.

actor worked with Khan in his debut, 1993 multi-starrer "Parampara" followed by "Aashik Awara" same year, title track of which t only became a hit but, according to Saif, "stabilised my floundering career".

"She had me doing some trademark moves on my knees on a sweaty incredibly hot and crowded set with air conditioner and lots of chemical smoke...I finished step and found I had torn knees of my trousers and blood was trickling down my leg. I told Saroj ji or 'Masterji' as I called her, and she said 'oh don't worry about blood. See where this blood takes you in life'," Saif recalled.

"Jawaani Jaaneman" actor said Khan's style of choreography made music come alive with "grace and sensuality" and remembered how he would practice her steps for hours on sets.

"But we were never allowed to change step to make it easier. That was t her work ethic. She knew what 'style' suited each of us actors best and would create that for us." 49-year-old said Khan once made him rehearse a song for a week and had him perform in front of entire unit, which would become one of his biggest hits: "Ole Ole" from "Yeh Dillagi" in 1994.

"When I finished panting, she said 'ok, w forget all that, w that you're easy with song let's try something better!' That song was 'Ole Ole' and she took a hit song to ar level. I must have performed this song a few hundred times on st on international tours, often three times in a row to 'encores'." Saif said he owes it to Khan — and her n assistants, choreographers Jojo and Ahmed Khan — for song that turned him into a "dancing star".

"An incredible feat as I have two left feet," he added.

Khan got her first break as an independent choreographer with "Geeta Mera Naam" in 1974 but it took Sridevi's "Hawa Hawai" song in 1987 film "Mr India" for her to receive acclaim as a dance choreographer of repute. Her collaborations with Madhuri Dixit, on songs like "Ek Do Teen" in "Tezaab", "Tamma Tamma Loge" in "Thanedar", "Dhak Dhak Karne Laga" in "Beta" and "Dola Re Dola" from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas", got her furr acclaim and recognition. Khan last choreographed for "Tabaah Hogaye", featuring Madhuri, from filmmaker Karan Johar's production "Kalank" in 2019.