Sonali, in a chat with Mid-day few years back, described her experience as “ironic” because, despite her lack of formal training, songs played a crucial role in her career.
She shared that even when some of her movies didn’t perform well, the songs she was featured in became hits, which helped sustain her career. Her first song, Sambhala Hai Maine, didn’t involve any complicated dance steps but relied heavily on expressions, which she managed to excel at.
Reflecting on her experience with the iconic choreographer Saroj Khan, Sonali mentioned how challenging it was to keep up with the dance routines, especially while working on the film English Babu Desi Mem. She recalled that Saroj Khan was frustrated with her lack of dance skills, as Sonali was cast as a bar dancer in the movie, a role that demanded extensive dance sequences. Sonali struggled significantly, dedicating every spare moment to learning how to dance.
Ahmed Khan, who was Saroj Khan’s assistant at the time, played a pivotal role in helping Sonali improve. He would encourage her like a child, bribing her with chocolates and ice cream to keep her motivated. He would pick her up from her home and take her to rehearsal halls, patiently teaching her each step. Despite Sonali’s frustrations and frequent thoughts of giving up, Ahmed’s persistence and encouragement helped her push through the difficulties and improve her dancing skills.
In the end, Sonali’s journey with dance was one of perseverance and overcoming personal challenges, which contributed to her lasting success in the film industry.