How a Michael Jackson music video launched a legendary Bollywood choreography career
In short: Farah Khan never planned to dance until she saw the Thriller music video while studying sociology. That single moment of inspiration turned her into one of India's most prolific choreographers, eventually leading her to direct blockbuster films and train international stars like Shakira and Kylie Minogue for global stages.
Born in 1965 to a stuntman-turned-filmmaker father, Farah Khan’s path to cinema was not immediate. While attending St. Xavier's College in Bombay, she was struck by the choreography in Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Despite having no prior dance training, she taught herself, formed a dance group, and eventually stepped in to choreograph the 1992 film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar after the original choreographer departed. This pivot launched a career spanning over 80 films and more than a hundred songs, earning her seven Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award.
Khan’s influence extends far beyond Indian borders. She has worked on international projects including Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams, and the Chinese film Perhaps Love. Her choreography for Bombay Dreams earned her a Tony Award nomination. She has also coached global icons, including training Shakira for a Bollywood-style version of Hips Don't Lie at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards and choreographing Kylie Minogue for the 2009 film Blue.
In 2004, Khan transitioned into directing with Main Hoon Na, becoming the second female director nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Director. She followed this with the 2007 hit Om Shanti Om, which made her the first woman to receive two nominations for the same award. Despite the commercial success of films like Happy New Year, her career has remained multifaceted; she has served as a judge on numerous reality television shows, acted in romantic comedies, and, as of April 2024, found a new audience through popular cooking vlogs on YouTube.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Farah Khan
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-farah-khan.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Entertainers · More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
