Rangeela Re-release EXCLUSIVE: Ahmed Khan reveals Ram Gopal Varma paid him same as Saroj Khan, the highest paid choreographer then — “I was just 19; it was my first film; I expected Rs. 5,000 but got Rs. 25,000 per song!”

By Fenil Seta -

November 22, 2025 - 4:00 PM IST

As Rangeela (1995) gears up for a re-release on November 28, Ahmed Khan spoke exclusively with Bollywood Hungama about his memories and a lot more. Earlier in the day, we published the story on how Ahmed Khan was just 19 when he replaced his guru Saroj Khan and came on board to choreograph the songs of the Aamir Khan-Jackie Shroff-Urmila Matondkar starrer. In this part, the master choreographer-filmmaker shared some more fascinating trivia about the film.

Rangeela Re-release EXCLUSIVE: Ahmed Khan reveals Ram Gopal Varma paid him same as Saroj Khan, the highest paid choreographer then — “I was just 19; it was my first film; I expected Rs. 5,000 but got Rs. 25,000 per song!”

At that time, Aamir Khan was a star in the making, Jackie Shroff was established while Urmila Matondkar was fairly new. Meanwhile, you were just 19; how was it shooting with them?
The credit goes to Ram Gopal Varma. Imagine he convinced A R Rahman and told him, ‘I am taking this young boy who has not done anything to choreograph your songs’. Imagine how he must have spoken to Aamir, ‘I am making a musical. I don’t have Saroj Khan or Chinni Prakash, or Prabhudheva. I am taking this 19-year-old kid’. Convincing people must have been tougher for him than getting me on board. I did not go through that exercise as I was not answerable to anybody.

Fortunately, Aamir and I had a bond. I have known him since I was 10 or 11. I was a child actor in his film, Raakh (1989). He knew my brother well; they used to hang out in Bandra. I had worked with him as an assistant choreographer as well. When he learned I had bagged Rangeela, he was amazed. He said, ‘Arre, damn good’. He took it in his stride.

Jaggu Dada was a senior actor. But he knew me from Mr India (1987). He used to come on its sets and play with us. He was happy when I bagged Rangeela and told me, ‘Bhidu, baccha bada ho gaya’! He supported me in ‘Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua’ in oozing that manly body language and making Urmila Matondkar look sexy. He said, ‘Tu chhota hai. Main tere ko batata hoon main kaise karunga’.

If there were any other actors, there would have been red flags and they would have said, ‘Let’s not hire him’. But they knew me well and trusted me.

Urmila was new and she wanted to achieve greater heights. It was her dream to excel in her career.

There was a song in Daud (1997), ‘Zehreela Pyar’. It was in the same zone as ‘Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua’. It feels like Ram Gopal Varma was trying to give a homage to you and your choreography. Did you feel so?
No, because that style was his brainchild. ‘Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua’ was shot by me and Saroj ji. This whole idea of Urmila in a red saree and Jackie in black attire running was his idea. Also, it was not a dance; it was a fight between two people. He is trying to grab her and she is scratching him. His previous Telugu films also had songs shot in that manner. Hence, even in Daud, it must have been RGV’s idea as he came up with that concept.

How much were you paid for Rangeela?
It was a shocker for me. In those days, assistant choreographers used to be paid Rs. 300 or Rs. 500 per day. Hence, one could earn Rs. 2500 since shooting one song would take 5 days; that used to be a huge amount for a 19-year-old boy. Saroj ji then was the highest paid choreographer; she used to charge Rs. 25,000 per songs. There was nobody close to her.

When Ram Gopal Varma signed me, he told me that he had informed his brother, Shekhar, to get my invoice done. He also told me to collect my payment. I agreed. Later, to my surprise, I was also paid Rs. 25,000 per song! Mere haath mein Rs. 1.50 lakh aa gaye; I did not know what to do with it (laughs). I asked Ram Gopal Varma, ‘Yeh galti se toh nahin de diye? This is Saroj ji’s fees’. He replied, ‘Are you mad? It’s yours’. I asked him, ‘Why would you pay me Rs. 25,000?’. He said, ‘Wouldn’t I have paid the same amount to Saroj Khan? For me, the person has changed, but the designation is the same. In fact, you have worked harder’!

Before, I used to wonder, ‘Ek gaane ka Rs. 5000 bhi mil jaayega toh bahut accha hoga’. So, earning Rs. 25,000 or Rs. 30,000 for 5-6 songs was enough for a boy of my age then. Since I was paid a bomb, I immediately bought a car (smiles).

Rangeela gave me all the happiness. Sometimes, people wonder ‘Kaash iss film ke gaane acche hote’ or ‘Kaash paise acche mile hote’ or ‘Kaash break accha hota’. But Rangeela ticked all three boxes. I treat the film as a family member. Also, it got my first Filmfare award as well!

That was huge since the same year also had films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Karan Arjun, Raja, Coolie No 1 etc…
Yes, it was a tough one. Rangeela gave me everything that an aspiring person in the industry would desire.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of Rangeela re-release, Ahmed Khan shares INSIDE story on why ‘Kya Kare Kya Na Kare’ was RESHOT and why his guru Saroj Khan left the film: “She said, ‘I don’t understand these kinds of songs’”