From void to fame: Bollywood celebs who started off as background dancers

Saroj Khan

Bollywood’s most celebrated choreographer Saroj Khan had started her career as a child artiste at the age of three in film ‘Nazarana’. In her mid 50’s, she started working as a background dancer in some of the popular Bollywood movies. In this picture you can see Saroj dressed as a guy in the song ‘Aaiye Meharbaan’ which featured the late actors Madhubala and Ashok Kumar from the movie ‘Howrah Bridge’ (1958). Saroj had become the independent choreographer with the film ‘Geeta Mera Naam’ (1974). But what came as a breakthrough was her song ‘Hawa Hawai’ from movie ‘Mr. India’ (1987) which brought her the much-deserved acclaim and success. When Filmfare Awards added the Best Choreography category in their ceremony, Saroj Khan was the first recipient of the same for her track ‘Ek Do Teen’ from movie ‘Tezaab’ (1988).

Farah Khan

Choreographer-cum-filmmaker Farah Khan is one woman who had her share of difficulties and struggles to deal with before tasting success. Today, Farah has worked with some of the biggest Bollywood stars but when it comes to picking up a personal favourite, she once said that it will always be Govinda. Not many would know that Farah has shared screen space with the actor when she appeared as a background dancer in his film ‘Sadaa Suhagan’ which was released in year 1986. A party song titled ‘Hum Hain Naujawan’ featured Farah as the background dancer. Later, while working as an assistant to director Mansoor Khan in his film ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’, Farah got her first break as a choreographer for the song ‘Pehla Nasha’. After the success received for this track and film, there was no looking back for Farah Khan.

Arshad Warsi

Better known in Bollywood for his unmatched comic timing and for playing the popular character of Circuit in ‘Munna Bhai’ series, actor Arshad Warsi had struggled a lot for a living in Mumbai during his early days. Not many are aware that before turning an actor Arshad was a choreographer. He had choreographed the title track for Anil Kapoor and Sridevi’s ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’ (1993). But, even before this, his first appearance in films was as a dancer in the song ‘Help Me’ which was featured on Jeetendra and Kimi Katkar from the movie ‘Aag Se Khelenge’ (1987). He made his debut as a lead hero with ‘Tere Mere Sapne’ (1996). There was no turning back for the actor after the release of ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ (2003).

Remo D’Souza

Better known today for choreographing many popular songs in Bollywood, Remo D'Souza’s struggle to achieve this stardom is an inspiring story in itself. The choreographer-filmmaker had worked as a background dancer in songs featured on superstars Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan in their movies ‘Aflatoon’ and ‘Pardes’ respectively. He had also played the part of Akshay’s friend in the same movie (‘Aflatoon’). These movies had come in the year 1997. Remo had got his first break as a choreographer in year 2000 with Manoj Bajpayee and Tabu-starrer ‘Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar’.

Shahid Kapoor

Many of his fans and ardent moviegoers would know this fact that Shahid Kapoor was interested in dance from an early age. The actor was just 15-years-old when he joined Shiamak Davar's dance institute. Being a student in the group, Shahid had appeared as a background dancer for the first time in film ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ in the song ‘Le Gayi’ which was featured on actress Karisma Kapoor. Following this, he was captured in the song ‘Kahin Aag Lage’ from the movie ‘Taal’. After being featured in a couple of TV commercials and popular music video ‘Aankhon Mein’, Shahid went on to make his debut as a lead hero in teenage romance flick ‘Ishq Vishk’ in 2003. And today, there's no turning back for this talented actor and fabulous dancer.

Daisy Shah

Before venturing into films as a leading lady, actress Daisy Shah had worked as an assistant to choreographer Ganesh Acharya for 10 years. Her first appearance in films was in the song ‘Lagan Lagi’ which was featured on superstar Salman Khan. Further, she also appeared in the title track of film ‘Masti’ and ‘Rockstar’ song from Akshay Kumar’s ‘Humko Deewana Kar Gaye’. Co-incidentally Daisy’s Bollywood debut as a female lead ‘Jai Ho’ too featured her opposite Salman Khan. This movie was released in the year 2014.

Sushant Singh Rajput

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, yet another protege of noted choreographer Shiamak Davar (after Shahid Kapoor) who started off as a background dancer. Sushant had enrolled himself in Shiamak Davar's dance classes while was he studying at Delhi College of Engineering. Following the dance classes, Sushant was selected to be in one of the groups of background dancers at the 51st Filmfare Awards held in 2006. He performed as the co-dancer on stage with superstar Hrithik Roshan who was leading the main dance performance. Talking about today, the actor has made a name for himself as an actor with projects like ‘Pavitra Rishta’ (TV), ‘Kai Po Che!’ and ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’.

Dia Mirza

Dia Mirza made her Bollywood debut in the year 2000 with 'Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein'. But before that, she had been a bakcground dancer in a Tamil song 'En Swasa Kaatre' in 1999.