Looking back: When Govinda paid Rs 4 lakh for Saroj Khan’s treatment

Looking back: When Govinda paid Rs 4 lakh for Saroj Khan’s treatment

Not many may be aware that when
ace-choreographer Saroj Khan took ill and hospitalised, Veteran actor Govinda paid
Rs. 4 Lakhs for her treatment. At that time around his Income was not in whopping crores.

Notedly, Govinda learned dancing from Saroj Khan and the actor is considered one of the best dancers in Bollywood. Govinda started dance from nowhere and ended up emerging as an incredible dancer.
a huge star.

In an old interview, Saroj Khan had recalled her memories with Govinda as she spoke about their bonding.

The late choreographer had also said in an interview, that Govinda told her from the beginning, ‘Masterji, I come without a ticket from Virar, don’t have money to pay you.She told him, ‘Did I ask you for money? I will ask when you become a star.’ He agreed, and later he got a break.”

Many years later, when he sent gurudakshina to her. She revealed, one day a 10-year-old kid came to me and handed me an envelope. I was sitting in a studio. He asked me if I was Saroj Khan, and when I confirmed, he handed me the envelope, saying, ‘Ye Chi Chi bhaiya ne diya (Chi Chi bhaiya has given this).’ The word ‘Gurudakshina’ was written on the envelope. It had Rs 24,000 in it and the paper read, ‘Now I can give Gurudakshina.’”
He also paid for her treatment and helped her in starting her academy. “Time passed. I was doing Devdas’ ‘Dola Re Dola’ and I fell very sick. I landed in the hospital, and doctors declared that ‘She can’t be saved.’ That is when Govinda came at night and gave my elder daughter a parcel and told her, ‘Tell Saroji ji her son had come.’ That parcel had Rs 4 lakh for my treatment. This is his upbringing. My academy also started because of Govinda.”

Khan passed away in July 2020 leaving a huge void in the industry.

News Edit KV Raman