Long before Farah Khan became one of Bollywood's most celebrated choreographers and directors, her brother Sajid Khan once marched into producer Sajid Nadiadwala's office demanding payment of a pending ₹5,000 — money owed to Farah for her choreography work on the 1993 drama 'Waqt Hamara Hain'. The anecdote, now part of Bollywood folklore, offers a rare glimpse into the early financial struggles of a woman who would go on to choreograph over 100 songs and direct back-to-back blockbusters.

The Confrontation at Nadiadwala's Office

The incident came to light when Sajid Nadiadwala recalled it on the popular chat show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'. According to the producer, he had been simultaneously producing two films — 'Waqt Hamara Hain' and 'Judwa' — and had no immediate recollection of Farah having choreographed a song for the former.

'One day, Sajid Khan came outside my office and said, 'You have defaulted 5,000 of my sister's money',' Nadiadwala recalled. When asked who his sister was, Sajid replied that it was Farah, adding: 'She is a dancer and the biggest choreographer of the future. Pay the 5,000 you owe her. I am not leaving your office till the time you pay the money.'

In a candid admission, Nadiadwala later confessed that he had still not paid those ₹5,000 to Farah — a detail that adds a touch of humour to what is otherwise a story about early-career financial precarity in the film industry.

Farah Khan's Choreography Breakthrough

Farah's journey as a choreographer began in the early 1990s after veteran choreographer Saroj Khan walked out of Aamir Khan's 1992 film 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar', creating an opening for the then-newcomer. That break proved transformative.

She went on to choreograph some of Hindi cinema's most iconic numbers, including 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' from 'Dil Se..' (1998), 'Ek Pal Ka Jeena' from 'Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai' (2000), and 'Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala' from 'Koi… Mil Gaya' (2003). Her tally of more than 100 choreographed songs spans three decades of mainstream Hindi cinema.

From Unpaid Choreographer to Nadiadwala's Creative Partner

Despite that unpaid ₹5,000 episode, Farah Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala have since built a strong and enduring professional relationship. Farah choreographed songs for two of Nadiadwala's recent productions — 'Sikandar' (2025) and 'Baaghi 4' (2025) — underscoring how thoroughly the early awkwardness gave way to collaboration.

Notably, the personal ties run deep as well: Nadiadwala's then 9-month-old son Subhan Nadiadwala made a cameo appearance as the baby version of Zayed Khan's character Lucky in Farah's directorial debut 'Main Hoon Na'.

Farah Khan as Director

Beyond choreography, Farah carved out a parallel career behind the camera. Her directorial outings — 'Main Hoon Na' and 'Om Shanti Om' — were both commercial blockbusters, cementing her status as one of the few women to have successfully straddled the dual roles of choreographer and mainstream director in Bollywood. The arc from chasing a ₹5,000 payment in the early 1990s to helming multi-crore productions is, by any measure, a remarkable one.