GECs
India’s Best Dancer 5 revisits Bollywood’s dance legacy ahead of launch
Judges trace dance’s evolution from Alam Ara to Karisma Kapoor before 6 June premiere.
MUMBAI: From twirls to thrills, Bollywood’s dance story got a standing ovation before a single contestant even took the stage.Ahead of its 6 June premiere, India’s Best Dancer Season 5 turned the spotlight away from competition and onto the rich history of Bollywood dance, as judges and host Harsh Limbachiyaa took a nostalgic trip through the generations that shaped India’s love affair with movement on screen.
What began as a casual discussion soon transformed into a lively lesson in cinematic history. Harsh posed a deceptively simple question to the panel, which was the first Bollywood film to showcase dance?
Judge Jaaved Jaaferi pointed to Aplam Chaplam, describing it as a memorable dance-centric film, while choreographer Terence Lewis reflected on the performers who elevated dance into an art form within mainstream cinema.
Lewis singled out legendary actresses such as Vyjayanthimala, Hema Malini and Sridevi, noting that their classical training brought a level of technique and finesse that reshaped Bollywood choreography. He added that Madhuri Dixit introduced a fresh dimension through her expressive performances, while Karisma Kapoor infused screen dance with a distinctly commercial and cinematic flair.
Harsh then steered the conversation further back in time, revealing that Alam Ara, India’s first talkie featuring Prithviraj Kapoor is widely regarded as one of the earliest films to showcase dance on screen.
The observation opened the door to a discussion about the Kapoor dynasty’s enduring influence on Indian cinema. Reflecting on the family’s legacy, Jaaved recalled the commanding screen presence of Prithviraj Kapoor, followed by Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, praising their charisma and larger-than-life personalities.
The exchange served as a reminder of how Bollywood dance has continually reinvented itself from the classical elegance of early cinema to the expressive glamour of later decades while remaining one of the industry’s most enduring attractions.
As India’s Best Dancer Season 5 prepares to celebrate “India Wala Dance”, the premiere episode offers viewers not just a talent showcase but also a tribute to the icons, performers and films that helped turn dance into one of Bollywood’s defining languages.
The new season premieres on 6 June on Sony Entertainment Television and will also stream on Sony Liv.
