Khurshid Vajifdar

🪔 About

Khurshid Vajifdar was a prominent Indian classical dancer, recognized as one of the three legendary Vajifdar Sisters, alongside her elder sister Shirin and younger sister Roshan. Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), she and her sisters courageously defied the conservative norms of their Parsi community to pursue Indian classical dance, an art form often associated with lower castes at the time. Her eldest sister, Shirin Vajifdar, who was nearly 15 years her senior, was instrumental in initiating and training Khurshid and Roshan in classical dance. Khurshid was a versatile exponent of multiple classical forms, including Kathak, Kathakali, Mohini Attam, Bharata Natyam, and Manipuri. Her distinguished career encompassed both stage performances and film appearances. In 1954, she performed a dance sequence in the acclaimed film "Mayurpankh," which was choreographed by Shirin Vajifdar. The Vajifdar sisters also undertook a tour of Southeast Asia in 1951, where they performed and promoted Indian culture. Khurshid Vajifdar established her independent dance class in 1949, and for several decades, she dedicated herself to teaching dance at esteemed institutions such as the J. B. Petit School and the New Era School. She was married to the renowned artist Shiavax Chavda. Khurshid Vajifdar passed away in 2013 at the age of 93.