Career
He came from a family of illustrious Kathak exponents in Lucknow, and also worked as film choreographer, Hindi cinema, most notably Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Pakeezah (1972). He was awarded the 1957 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest award for performing artists, conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India"s National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. He also learnt the Pakhawaj, the Tabla and Hindustani Classical vocal music
Later, he moved to Mumbai, where the emerging film industry helped him to bring Kathak to a far wider audience.
He was also the founder Director of the Kathak Kendra started by the Uttar Pradesh Government in Lucknow.
