Top female choreographers in India

Dance is an integral part of Indian film Industry aka Bollywood. For many years the choreography of Bollywood films has been done by males. It is only recently that many female choreographers have entered the scene and their performances have been appreciated. Following are a few noted female choreographers who rule the roost in Bollywood.

Saroj Khan

Saroj Khan is a popular Bollywood choreographer working in the Bollywood film industry for years. This promising dance choreographer has worked for more than 200 films in Bollywood.

Some of the movies choreographed by Saroj Khan are:

• Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
• Don – The Chase Begins Again
• Veer-Zaara
• Kuch Naa Kaho
• Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
• Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
• Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya
• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
• Baazigar
• Beta

Farah Khan

Farah Khan is another well-known Bollywood choreographer. Farah Khan has done choreography for more than 100 songs. The film, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander was choreographed by her. Several other dance sequences of Farah Khan are national hits. Choreography of Farah Khan has given her name and fame all over the world. With movies like Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om, she has established herself as a director. With movies like Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair and Bombay Dreams, Farah Khan won international recognition. For the Broadway’s 2004 Tony Award she was nominated for Best Choreographer. To add to her feather, she also worked for some international assignments like Marigold and Monsoon Wedding. Farah Khan has also taught Shakira for a melodious Bollywood version of Hips Do not Lie.

Vaibhavi Merchant

Vaibhavi Merchant is one of the well-known Bollywood Choreographers. Vaibhavi Merchant has won several awards for her outstanding choreography. She choreographed the song “Dhol Baaje”from movie “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”. The dance sequence for “O Ri Chhori” from Lagaan was also choreographed by her. Some of the movies choreographed by her include the hugely popular Dhoom, Devdas and Veer Zaara.

Rujuta Vaidya

Some of her recent works include choreography in the The King of Bhangra. Other well known films in which she has worked include films like Cosmopolitan, which is directed by Nisha Ganatra, Guru, India Pakistan Peace Tour 2004 among others. Recently she has received world wide acclamation for her work in two most popular Bollywood movies which were shot in US like Jaaneman and Tara Rum Pum.

Rujuta Vaidya has been appointed as the artistic director for the Miss Asia America Pageant. She has collaborated with reputed film personalities like Roshan Seth and Carol Kene. She is also associated with different productions of Stereo Nation and RDB. She has cast and trained 80 very well known dancers which include some foreign nationals too. She holds dance training sessions and has numerous disciples. Her dance group comprising participants belonging to different nations stages performances in different corners of the world. Watching the performances of the group on the stage is really an enjoyable experience. Rujuta Vaidya is one of the most promising Bollywood choreographers. 

Geeta Kapur

Geeta Kapur started her career when she joined the troupe of noted Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan at just 15 ^[2], later went on to assisting her in many films and even the musical Bombay Dreams, and was part of films like Fiza, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Saathiya, Main Hoon Na and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, and has lent choreography to many Bollywood song and dance sequences.

Starting out as a secondary, background dancer in many song sequences, she stood out through her persistence on some a mix of classical and modern dance moves. Starting in late 90′s, she got some early projects to impart her dance skills in movies such as ‘Nayak’. She also appeared in kuch kuch hota hai for bout 5 seconds and in Main Hoon Na in a song.