“We were never allowed to change the step to make it easier. That was not her work ethic.” Saif pays tribute to the legendary choreographer in a heartfelt note
Saif Ali Khan (BOMBAY TIMES; July 5, 2020)

Saroj ji was the greatest and most artistic choreographer in the film industry I joined in 1990. Her name involved with a project was always a huge advantage to producers, and her style of choreography had the top talents of the film industry make music come alive with grace and sensuality.

I did my first film and first song ever with her in Parampara, which was soon followed by Aashiq Awaara, the title song of which was a big hit and stabilised my floundering career. She had me doing some trademark moves on my knees on a sweaty, incredibly hot and crowded set with no air conditioners and lots of chemical ‘smoke’. I think only my colleagues from the ’90s and before will understand the conditions I mean. I finished the step and realised I had torn the knees of my trousers, and blood was trickling down my leg. I told Saroj ji, or Masterji as I called her, and she said, “Oh, don’t worry about blood. See where this blood takes you in life.”

She taught me to work hard. I would turn off the set’s lights, wrap a malmal cloth around my head and rehearse her steps for hours, often without lunch, to get it right; but we were never allowed to change the step to make it easier — that was not her work ethic. She knew what ‘style’ suited each of us actors best, and would create that for us. She made me rehearse for a week for a song I was to do with her, and when I reached the set, she made me perform it in one go in front of the unit.

When I finished panting, she said, “Okay, now forget all that, now that you’re at ease with the song let’s try something better!” That song was Ole Ole from Yeh Dillagi, and she took a hit song to another level. I must have performed this song a few hundred times on stage on international tours, often three times in a row, to ‘encores’! I will always owe her (and Jojo and Ahmed Khan who at the time were her young assistants, and later became big names in their own right) for this song and turning me into a dancing star — an incredible feat as I have two left feet!

I was shooting a lovely romantic song late at night in Hyderabad and the heroine was having some trouble with the expressions. Saroj ji yelled on the microphone – “Sex! It’s sex! Have you never had sex?” She could shame us into performing! A song with her often became real art, with every beat and step requiring an emotion and expression. Like she told Kareena once — “If you can’t move your feet, move your face at least!”

That era is gone and that music is over, but for all of us who have had the privilege of being instructed on set by that great lady, we will never be able to hear a Hindi film song without thinking of how she has made the greatest names in Bollywood, from Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi to Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit Nene, dance to her tunes.

Rest in peace Masterji, and thank you for everything you gave us.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 28, 2020)

He started 2020 with a bang as his first release of the year, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, got cash registers ringing at the box office. Now, Saif Ali Khan is set with his next, Jawaani Jaaneman, where he plays a non-committal man who gets a shock on meeting his young, pregnant daughter. The film revisits Saif’s super hit dance number Ole Ole from Yeh Dillagi (1994).

Asked if he approves of the reprised version of the song and Saif says, “Sometimes, you have to do what the production (team) thinks will sell or what the trend is. I feel it’s remarkable that I’ve been working for so long that I could star in the remix of my own song (smiles). In a way that was interesting, but then, I feel Ole Ole was probably best left where it is... It’s a great song for a time that has gone. To reinvent is not something I’d have liked to do, but like I said, you listen to the marketing bosses.”

Saif began his career in the early 90s and has reinvented his onscreen image with a variety of roles in films such as Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Omkara (2006) and his recent web series, Sacred Games. After earning huge success and fame, the actor reveals why he values success over being famous. “Fame to me is being well known for various reasons. There’s a kind of fame you have when you come from a wealthy family, but, I feel, being successful is the key. In fact, being famous has been a hindrance for me. I like getting paid and I’d like to be wealthy through my work; being famous has never been important,” says the 49-year-old.

He, in fact, wishes that he wasn’t recognised yet be able to do the work that he does. “But, I realise they go hand-in-hand,” he adds, “All my life, I’ve had a certain amount of spotlight on me, at least in India. But, I also enjoy the anonymity in London, so there’s a fine balance between people knowing you, and not knowing you in some places. I’m happy either way.”

Having “cherished” his career through last three decades, Saif admits that it has been a “growing process” and that right now is the best time. “I don’t really look back (at life) with any kind of nostalgia. I developed into the actor I am today, much later (in my career). So, I feel much more creative today,” he says.

25 years after its wild success, Saif Ali Khan Khan reprises Yeh Dillagi song Ole ole for Jawaani Jaaneman
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 27, 2019)

Unlike his long hair that is best left in the '90s, Saif Ali Khan's chartbuster Ole ole holds as much charm today as it did upon its release in 1994. Not surprising then that the actor-producer has revisited the Yeh Dillagi track in his next, Jawaani Jaaneman, the teaser of which drops online today.

The reprised version is an ode to Khan's "jawani" days, says composer Tanishk Bagchi. "Since Ole ole is an all-time classic, the producers [Jackky Bhagnani and Jay Shewakramani] decided on recreating this fun song. Lyricist Shabbir [Ahmed] and I have worked on quite a few songs. While writing the lyrics for this track, he tried to retain the fun element. The idea was to the better the original song and enhance its feel."

Khan shot for the song at a suburban studio last week. Prod Bagchi for the star's reaction to the new version, and he says, "He loved our treatment." Nitin Kakkar, who is helming the romantic comedy that also features Tabu, adds, "Considering it became a cult song, there is a lot of pressure riding on us as we want the track to resonate with the audience the way the original version did."