Built in three nights, remembered forever

Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Saroj Khan

A dark night, an orange backless lehenga-choli, and a simmering chemistry that set screens ablaze. For every 1990s kid, that image instantly brings back Dhak Dhak Karne Laga from Beta (1992). Choreographed by the late Saroj Khan, the song transformed Madhuri Dixit-Nene into a sensation and remains one of Bollywood's most iconic dance numbers.

Dixit and Khan's collaboration, that lasted over 40 years, actually began in 1987. In the upcoming episode of India's Best Dancer Season 5, Dixit reflects on her association with Khan, which made her a Bollywood sensation. "Dance isn't just a part of my career; it is where I have truly lived my life, expressed my joy, and felt most alive. Saroj ji has been a big influence on me. She was strict but soft at heart, I had a special relationship with her," shares the Dhak Dhak girl.

Interestingly, the iconic song that gave Dixit the sobriquet was actually a last minute addition to Beta. Dixit recalls preparing for an outdoor shoot when director Indra Kumar urged her to complete the song before leaving because the film's release was approaching. "With my outdoor project, I wouldn't be back for a month and a half, so I wasn't sure how we would manage it. We were already working double shifts. We ended up shooting at night, from 7 pm to 2 am," she says.

The set was initially filled with colourful pots and props, but cinematographer Baba Azmi scrapped the entire design upon arrival. "Half our shift went into clearing the entire set and redesigning it. He suggested painting everything brown and creating the mood entirely through lighting," recollects Dixit.

She adds that artistes of that era trusted technicians implicitly. "If the director said a shot was okay, it was okay for us. If the choreographer approved, we trusted their judgment. Nobody asked for anything extra. We completed the entire song in just three-and a-half nights, but it went on to become one of the most memorable songs of my career."