Govinda is considered one of the best dancers in Bollywood. The actor had started from nowhere and ended up becoming a huge star. Did you know that Govinda learnt dancing from the legendary choreographer Saroj Khan when he had come from Virar. In an old interview, Saroj Khan had recalled her memories with Govinda as she spoke about their bonding.
The late choreographer had said in an interview, “Govinda ji told me from the beginning, ‘Masterji, I come without a ticket from Virar, I don’t have money to give you.’ I 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 sent gurudakshina to Khan. 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.