Anil Kapoor talks about when Madhuri Dixit was handed over to Saroj Khan

MUMBAI: Anil Kapoor has shared how late choreographer Saroj Khan had a huge impact on his career. Saroj died on Friday after a cardiac arrest. She was 71.

The actor recounted how Saroj ji made him look romantic and macho and he wasn’t as good a dancer as the female actors he was usually paired opposite. “My leading ladies, including Sridevi, Madhuri, or Aishwarya (Rai) were fabulous dancers while I’m technically not a dancer-dancer. So, I’m grateful to Sarojji that on screen I did not come across as any less,” he said.

Also read Saroj Khan Demise: Varun Badola and Rashmi Desai remember Saroj Khan and take to social media remembering her.

Anil recounted how Saroj trained Madhuri for the song Ek Do Teen. “A year after Mr India, Tezaab released. Madhuri (Dixit) was still a relative newcomer when we handed her over to Sarojji. After two weeks of rehearsal, she called Chandra (director N Chandra) and me to Satyam Hall and Madhuri performed to Ek Do Teen for us. I was blown over by the moves and the energy,” he said. “We shot the song in Mehboob Studio and watching it, I was like, “Oh God, what do I do!” I got them to shoot a male version with me which was not there in the script in front of where Shah Rukh’s (Khan) bungalow stands today,” he added.

Anil and Saroj worked together on multiple other films and songs such as Mr India’s Kaate Nahi Kat Te and even Ram Lakhan’s My Name Is Lakhan.

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

Credits: Hindustan Times