Farah Khan was born to the filmmaker Karmuddin Khan and has a younger brother, the famous TV comedian Sajid Khan. Farah is related to Javed Akhtar’s ex-wife Honey Irani who is a famous script writer. Farah’s childhood was bleak as her father’s movies flopped and the family was in debt; the family had to sell things in order to survive. Farah was a bright kid in school and would strive hard to top the class as only then would she be rewarded with a film ticket. Ever since her childhood days, Farah had a flair for dancing and would entertain family and friends by performing on old numbers. Her calling paid off as she opened her own dance school while studying in St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Farah was given her first break by Mansoor Khan in ‘Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’ and the rest as the cliché goes ‘is history’. Farah met Shahrukh Khan during her second movie ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ and the two became best of buddies.

Farah was a threat to veteran choreographer Saroj Khan and when Saroj walked out of ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, the project fell in Farah’s laps and after the success of the movie, Farah was recognized as the number one choreographer in Bollywood.
 
As a choreographer, Farah has some big projects to her credit like ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’, ‘Dil Chatha Hai’, ‘Monsoon Wedding’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’, ‘Kaal’, ‘Krrish’ and ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’. Farah Khan has choreographed for more than hundred songs and has won four Filmfare Awards. Farah always dreamt of directing a movie and was encouraged by friend Shahrukh to persue it; in 2002, she narrated the script of ‘Main Hoon Na’ to Shahrukh and he not only agreed to act, but also produced the movie. ‘Main Hoon Na’ was Farah’s dedication to the 70’s genre and even though her movie had a soul of that era, the body was undoubtedly in tune with the millennium, which made the movie a runaway success. During the making of ‘Main Hoon Na’, Farah became close to editor Shirish Kunder and the two got married on December 9th 2004.

Farah also choreographed for the Broadway musical ‘Bombay Dreams’ for which she has won accolades for her work. Farah has also choreographed Latin Singer Shakira for her performance at the MTV Music Video Awards in which Shakira did Bollywood dance on “Hips Don’t Lie”. Farah is ready with her second directorial movie ‘Om Shanti Om’.

Farah has worked her way up and till 2001 she was living in a 500 sq. feet condo with her brother and mother, but now she owns a plush sea facing spacious condo in Juhu, Mumbai. Farah’s hard work, determination and attitude have made her a role model for many aspiring choreographers.