The late choreographer Saroj Khan he played a key role in the tour Madhuri Dixit Join one of Bollywood’s biggest stars. From their first big hit with Tezaab’s ‘Ek Do Teen’ to their latest collaboration ‘Tabaah Ho Gaye’ from Kalank, the duo created memorable cinematic moments together.More than two decades after the release of Devdas’ iconic ‘Dola Re Dola’, Saroj Khan’s long-time crewmate Rubina Khan has revealed Madhuri’s physical challenges while shooting the elaborate dance number. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The song was featured in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s popular period drama, in which he also starred Shah Rukh Khan.Speaking to Bollywood Thikana, Rubina recalled the extensive preparation behind the song. “It took 17 days to record that song. Rehearsals were done for at least a month. We rehearsed individually, and the main actors individually,” he said.He also found Madhuri pregnant during the shoot and fought in a particularly intense sequence. “There is a step where madhuri madhuri turns around and sits down. That shot continued from 9 am to 10 pm because she was four months pregnant. So she couldn’t turn properly and was dizzy,” explains Rubina.Despite his condition, the actor is said to have continued without asking for a change. “She also had a fever that time. She struggled a lot,” said Rubina, who praised Madhuri Saroj Khan’s dedication to choreography. “He would never ask to change a step. What Master ji said is set in stone. New artists would still tell Master ji that a step is hard and can be changed. But Master ji would rarely change a step suggested by him. However, he insisted on taking the same step.”Madhuri married American surgeon Shriram Nene in 1999 and moved to Denver after retiring from films at the height of her career. It was Bhansali who convinced him to briefly reprise the role of Chandramukhi in Devdas. After finishing the film, she welcomed her sons Arin in 2003 and Ryan in 2005. She later made a full-fledged comeback with Aaja Nachle before finally relocating to Mumbai with her family.Apart from Madhuri, Saroj Khan also reportedly faced serious health issues during the shooting of ‘Dola Re Dola’. Bhansali had earlier recalled his decision while working on the song. “He was in a lot of pain, but he would lie on the floor and give instructions. He shot for 15 days,” he told The Quint.The filmmaker also recalled visiting Devdas in the hospital after his release. “The day Devdas was released, Sarojji was in the hospital. Aishwarya and I went to meet him. In his semi-conscious state he asked, ‘Dola Re Dola pe paise miley ya nahin? (Did the audience flip coins on ‘Dola Re Dola’?)’. Imagine his passion for his work! Even in that situation, he wanted to know if his work was being appreciated,” Bhansali told journalist Subhash K Jha after Saroj Khan’s death in 2020.Bhansali once described Saroj Khan as “the Salim-Javed of choreography”, comparing her influence on dance to the legendary screenwriting duo’s influence on storytelling in Hindi cinema. However, despite their acclaimed collaboration, the two later experienced strains in their professional relationship, with Saroj Khan accusing the filmmaker of denying her credits after Devdas.
