Madhuri Dixit, Kamal Haasan pay tribute to Birju Maharaj 

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit has paid tribute to Birju Maharaj. The Kathak legend and choreographer passed away on Sunday in Delhi. He was 83. 

Birju Maharaj had choreographed the song, 'Kaahe Chhed Mohe', in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas (2002). Picturised on Madhuri, it became a standout sequence of the film. 

Mourning the late guru, Madhuri wrote, "He was a legend but had a child like innocence. He was my guru but also my friend. He taught me the intricacies of dance and Abhinay but never failed to make me laugh at his funny anecdotes. He has left behind grieving fans and students but also left a legacy we will all carry forward. Thank you Maharajji for everything you taught me in dance along with humility, elegance and grace.''

Kamal Haasan, whose film Vishwaroopam had the song Unnai Kaanadhu Naan choreographed by Birju Maharaj, also shared his condolences. The sequence won Maharaj the National Film Award for choreography in 2012.

Writing in Tamil, Kamal shared, "The incomparable dance legend Pandit Birju Maharaj has passed away. Like an Ekalavya, I learnt a lot from him by observing him from a distance for many years. I learnt a lot from close quarters for Vishwaroopam."

The actor concluded his tweet with the lines from Unnai Kaanadhu Naan, adding, "A legend who dedicated his life to music and dance, 'I am not myself today as a result of being unable to see you'."

Others including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Kangana Ranaut, Anushka Sharma, Anupam Kher and Hema Malini also paid tribute to Birju Maharaj.