National award winning Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan passes away aged 71

Saroj Khan | Noted choreographer Saroj Khan has passed away at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest. She was battling ill health since the past few days and was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai on June 20 after complaining of breathlessness. (Image: Network18 Creatives)

Noted choreographer Saroj Khan has passed away at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest, media reports suggest.

Saroj Khan was battling ill health since the past few days. She was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai on June 20 after complaining of breathlessness.

Lately her son Raju Khan had confirmed about her well-being.

Rest in peace!
Veteran choreographer #SarojKhan passes away at 71 due to a sudden cardiac arrest. #RIPSarojKhan pic.twitter.com/c3rkbhvTXz

— Filmfare (@filmfare) July 3, 2020

Her career spanned over 40 years where she choreographed over 2,000 songs.

Saroj Khan received the National Award for Best Choreography, three times for Devdas (2003), Sringaram (2006) and Jab We Met (2008).

Saroj Khan started off as a child artist aged just 3 in a film called Nazrana.

Khan, known as 'Masterji' across Bollywood, last worked in the film Kalank for a song, where she choreographed Madhuri Dixit.

Tributes have started to pour in for the acclaimed choreographer.

Actor Akshay Kumar said that she made dance look easy.

Woke up to the sad news that legendary choreographer #SarojKhan ji is no more. She made dance look easy almost like anybody can dance, a huge loss for the industry. May her soul rest in peace 

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 3, 2020

Choreographer Remo D'Souza also tweeted to send his condolences.

#RIP SAROJI YOU WILL BE MISSED .... big loss to dance fraternity ..... pic.twitter.com/1Kv5B6CpKv

— Remo D'souza (@remodsouza) July 3, 2020

Minister of Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar tweeted to share his grief. 

Saroj Khan was a genius Choreographer, who impressed & entertained all with her iconic work. Shocked to know about her demise. A big loss to the film industry. Condolences to her family, friends & fans. Om Shanti .#RIPSarojKhan #Legend

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) July 3, 2020

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh also shared his tributes for Saroj Khan.

२०००+ सदाबहार गाण्यांवर आपल्या नृत्याविष्काराने दर्शकांच्या मनात ठसा उमटवणाऱ्या ख्यातनाम नृत्य निर्देशिका सरोज खान यांना माझी भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. त्यांच्या परिवाराच्या, फिल्म जगतातील सहकार्यांच्या व तमाम चाहत्यांच्या दु:खात मी सामील आहे. #RIPSarojKhan pic.twitter.com/k4sZuaDI0q

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) July 3, 2020

Saroj ji once told me, beta kaam ke baare main kabhie complain mat karna. Jab nahi hota toh bahut dukh hota hai. I’ve never forgotten that. RIP #SarojKhan

— Anupama Chopra (@anupamachopra) July 3, 2020

Woke up to the news that Saroj Khan is no more with us, Most talented trend setter choreographer of Film industry, My condolences to her family members & admirers. We will miss you. #RIP  pic.twitter.com/xlON9X3Emu

— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) July 3, 2020