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In the glittering world of Bollywood, where talent often needs a push, legendary choreographer Saroj Khan played fairy godmother to many stars. But there was indeed one stand-out among all the disciples she had taught: a lanky and struggling lad from Virar who was soon going to become the dancing idol of Bollywood: Govinda. Such a journey, rather than just a dance saga, narrated an immortal tale of faith, affection, and the unexpressed guru-shishya relationship.
Before he became the Govinda we all know, the king of effortless jhatkas and matkas—he was just another aspiring actor with dreams more significant than his pocket. In an old interview, Saroj Khan recalled all too fondly how a young lad came to her on bended knee, confessing to her that he couldn’t afford the classes. “From the onset, Govinda ji told me, ‘Masterji, I come without a ticket from Virar; I have no money to give you.’ I ended the conversation by saying, ‘Did I ever ask you for money? I will ask once you are a star.’”
Govinda took Saroj’s promise quite seriously, learned well from her, and before long had managed to style out for himself cheeky acclaim as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated dancers. Years later, when Govinda had made a name for himself as a bankable star, he did not forget his guru. Saroj Khan recalled a moment of pure emotion now and again when a 10-year-old boy approached her on the film set and handed her an envelope. “He asked me if I was Saroj Khan, and when I said yes, he handed me an envelope and said, ‘Ye Chi Chi bhaiya ne diya.’ It was Rs. 24,000, along with a little note, ‘Now I can give Gurudakshina.”
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