Ahmed Khan on Saroj Khan-RGV fallout

Renowned choreographer and filmmaker Ahmed Khan recently opened up about his early years in the Hindi film industry, reflecting on his journey from being mentored by the legendary Saroj Khan to carving his own path. Speaking to The Indian Express, Ahmed recalled the changing landscape of Bollywood choreography in the 1990s and how it shaped his career.“I used to keep telling Saroj aunty that the time has come; we need to understand, we need to change,” he said, referring to the shift in musical trends with the rise of hip-hop and fusion influences. Songs like Ole Ole and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen, which he choreographed, exemplified his contemporary style and helped redefine dance on screen.Although Saroj Khan initially found the emerging musical style unfamiliar, she and Ahmed Khan eventually collaborated on a song in Baazigar that blended her classical finesse with his modern rhythm. Ahmed recalled that after "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen...", Saroj Khan had hugged him and told him that he had changed things for her.

Ahmed also recounted how he unexpectedly landed the iconic Aamir Khan-Urmila Matondkar starrer '

Rangeela

'. Originally, the film’s choreography was to be helmed by Saroj Khan, but creative differences with director Ram Gopal Varma led to her stepping away. “The first song was ‘

Tanha Tanha

’ and I used to sway to it on set,” Ahmed said. “Ram Gopal Varma saw me and told Saroj ji, ‘I want something like this boy’s style.’ He didn’t even know my name at the time.”According to Ahmed, Saroj Khan envisioned a more traditional style for the film, while Ram Gopal Varma was keen on experimenting with a freer, more contemporary visual aesthetic. “That’s where the creative conflict happened,” he explained. “She said she wanted to do it one way, and he wanted something entirely different.”The disagreement eventually led Saroj Khan to exit the project, citing date issues, and Ahmed was offered the film. Although it was a big opportunity, he was apprehensive. “Today, people talk about how I got Rangeela, but back then, it wasn’t a big deal for Saroj ji—she had films like 'Khalnayak'. For her, if it was gone, it was gone,” he said. “I was scared. I kept thinking, ‘What if it doesn’t work? What if Saroj ji doesn’t take me back?’”Despite his initial apprehensions, 'Rangeela' became a defining moment in Ahmed Khan’s career. He revealed that he was paid ₹25,000 per song—an impressive amount for a choreographer in the 1990s, particularly since Saroj Khan was known to charge ₹20,000. “It was a big deal back then,” he recalled.The film not only established him as a leading choreographer but also marked a stylistic shift in Bollywood dance, reflecting the evolving tastes of a new generation.