Saroj Khan, the one who danced to live
(WorldNews Entertainment)

Two decades ago, in July 2002, when Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s magnum opus Devdas released, Saroj Khan, the choreographer of the film, was admitted in the ICU. Khan had been unwell for a while and was on heavy medication to douse the pain she had been feeling while teaching the two leads — Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai — during the filming. After the first screening ended at night, Bhansali and Rai headed to the hospital to meet Khan. In her dazed state, she had a question for Bhansali, “Dola re dole pe seeti baji kya? (Did anyone whistle when Dole re played?),” she asked. Sitting by her bedside, Bhansali welled up. “That is the madness. That is why Saroj Khan is who she is…...