Indian dance choreographer Saroj Khan, one of the most well-known figures in the industry, had a story that many of her followers rarely knew. She rose to fame by becoming one of the leading choreographers in the industry after experiencing numerous hurdles in both her professional and personal life.Her first marriage ended in trauma, as she lost her child shortly after birth. She once revealed why she got married twice and why she later chose to follow the Islamic faith.Early Struggles After PartitionSaroj was born just a year after India gained independence, and her family was forced to start a new life in India after partition. She lost her father at an early age, and the burden of supporting the family fell on her tiny shoulders.
In an old interview with the BBC, Saroj revealed that her mother used to put pans on the stove to pretend she was cooking food, hoping the children would fall asleep while waiting. By the age of three, Saroj was already working in films as a child artiste. She remembered frequently acting opposite the legendary actor Balraj Sahni. She also had to look after her brother and sister. She needed to earn money for their education and marriage.A Childhood Burdened by ResponsibilityShe would often dance alone at home, using her shadow as her partner. But her mother grew worried about her habit of dancing and took her to a doctor, thinking it was a disease. However, the doctor corrected her and suggested she try cinema, which could also help the family financially.Her debut as a background dancer came in the iconic number ‘Aaiye Meherban’ in Howrah Bridge, starring Madhubala.A Secret Marriage at 13Saroj met S. Sohanlal, a seasoned choreographer from the South, when she was just 12 years old. He was 30 years her senior, and by the age of 13, she was ‘unofficially’ married to him. He tied a black thread around her neck without telling her that he was already married and had children. She learned about his marriage only after giving birth to their first child.Personal Tragedy and BetrayalSaroj was just 14 when she gave birth to their son. Later, she had a daughter who tragically passed away at eight months old. The loss deeply affected her, and Sohanlal never officially accepted her. He also refused to acknowledge the fatherhood of their children. He returned to Madras and vanished forever after the loss of their daughter.Finding Love AgainIn 1975, Saroj married Sardar Roshan Khan, who already had children. Their union came with a promise: he would adopt her children. She said, “He had four children, I had two… I agreed, but on the condition that he adopts my children.” She described him as a caring father figure who never let her children feel excluded. “My second husband never let my children feel like outsiders… They both loved him very much,” she told DD.Saroj Khan embraced IslamShe converted to Islam after marrying Khan. “I was a Hindu. My name was Saroj Kishan Chand Sadhu Singh Nagpal. We are Sindhi Punjabis. I met my husband, fell in love, and converted. I love Islam. I went to a mosque on my own, changed my religion, and became a Muslim. People have asked me if I was forced. I told them I lost a baby girl, and she would come to me in my dreams, calling for me from inside a mosque…” she shared in an old interview with DD.Saroj passed away in 2020, during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.