Starring Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, the excellent dance film Best of the Best, directed by Lena Khan, is now playing on Netflix. The film takes you inside collegiate Bollywood-fusion dance competitions. Best friends Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia) join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood dance team. They find out the ruthless world of Bollywood collegiate dance teams and competitions is no joke. They soon realize the road to winning the US championship is a far more intense, wild, and cutthroat journey than they ever imagined. Making it to the top requires blood, sweat, tears, and the sacrifice of one’s hair — all in the name of art.
At its core, Best of the Best celebrates friendship, sisterhood, the growing pains of young adulthood, and, of course, the intense dynamics of college. It also captures the vibrancy of Bollywood-fusion dance and the seriously competitive college Bollywood dance team circuit.
Along with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, the film also features Hasan Minhaj, Chaneil Kular, Ankur Rathee, Shreya Navile, Becky Alex, Nihar Duvvuri, Nico Greetham, Amryn Khurana, Tanishq Joshi, Sasha Bhasin, Janina Gavankar, Saara Chaudry, and Kavi Ramachandran.
Now, let’s set the stage with the trailer
Now, we turn the spotlight on the Best of the Best of the Best. 5-6-7-8!
The collegiate Fusion Bollywood competitions
One of the coolest and, yeah, best things, is learning about these Bollywood dance teams and the competitions. This is a world completely new to me, and I loved experiencing it! The way they showcased these teams and the competition was so well done. It is incredible how huge this competition series is – I honestly had no idea. What was even more impressive was getting glimpses of how diverse the teams are; they present many styles, many genres of dance and music, including modern, hip-hop, straight-up Bollywood, Punjabi, classical Indian dance, and in many of the numbers, they have rolled it all into one, both in moves and notes. The fierce training. The intensity of the teams. The final epic productions. It really is hardcore! The film really enters you into this world, and I greatly enjoyed seeing every rehearsal and performance! I am now a fan!
Best of the Best. (L to R) Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Maya, Priyanka Kedia as Anjali in Best of the Best. Cr. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix © 2026
Maitrevi Ramakrishnan is absolutely brilliant
Strong, fierce, but at the same time very, very vulnerable, her character, Maya, is really unsure of who she really is in the world. Even when she is being the take-charge, take-no-prisoners lead, she still keeps this look in her eyes that you feel to your soul. She was so raw inside, and as you learn her story, you learn her why. Her slowlyyy coming into her own is a sight to see. It is a fabulous performance!
Priyanka Kedia as Anjali is so, so good
The perfect casting. She too has this I don’t know who I am vibe, but for her it is I want to find out, and I am going to, no matter how, because dang it, it is college! Her arc is also fascinating, and I loved watching her grow and come into her own… or begin to!
Their friendship-sistership also must be lauded
It is a central focus of the tale, and the way the writers wrote it is classic teen comedy but also deeper (don’t want to give it away so you know what you need to do, yeah, start watching). Their scenes together, whatever the moment, felt very real on reel.
Best of the Best. (L to R) Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Maya, Nico Greetham as Harry, Ankur Rathee as Ronak, Priyanka Kedia as Anjali, Amryn Khurana as Sumi in Best of the Best. Cr. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix © 2026
The entire cast is great
I applaud everyone in it because they were all real, not playing someone; they were their character. I never thought, hmmm, they seemed out of place. The acting was giving, and it was terrific. Take a bow, everyone. I must mention: I absolutely loved the chemistry between Chaneil Kular and Maitrevi Ramakrishnan. I could say more, but I don’t want to spoil! They zinged!
The stereotypical character is not what you think
One of the funniest and kind of thought-provoking things is that the stereotypical character was actually the white guy who knew more about Bollywood and Indian culture. Every Bollywood fusion dance team apparently has one. There were no “caricatures of Indian characters”; they were just college-age Asian Americans — as they should be. The stereotypical role was the white guy. I only point this out because I think this was a marked and pointed decision to showcase this. I absolutely have to shout out the fight between the two white guy dancers on different teams at the frat party; that was too funny! It was the characters’ experience, their world, their team, and I was along for the ride.
Choreography was a 10!
The choreography by Phillip Chbeeb, Makenzie Dustman, and Joya Kazi was absolutely incredible! Each number was so different, so intricate, such a blend of Indian classical dance like Bharatanatyam; then there was Bollywood, hip-hop, breaking, and krumping, plus many other styles of today. The fusion really worked, and I have to admit I was not sure before seeing it! They perfectly blended the styles to create such unique and really cool numbers. I have to highlight some of the best dance pieces!
First number… until the drone incident
Best of the Best. (L to R) Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Maya, Priyanka Kedia as Anjali in Best of the Best. Cr. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix © 2026
Starting with a showcase of classical Indian dance, the precision and intertwining of their steps was amazing. The switch-up to straight modern hip-hop dance to modern music was really well done. The drones were a cool touch… until the incident… You gotta watch the movie to find out what I mean.
The performances at the South Asian Student Association mixer was one of my favorites.
Best of the Best. (L to R) Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Maya in Best of the Best. Cr. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix © 2026
The moments where Maya and Anjali each imagine they are part of the dance are just so good! Each has their own vision of what they want to be a part of, and the dance brings that to life. Applause! I keep saying this, but you gotta watch this to see what I mean! It is the best!
The main Bollywood movie number
Best of the Best. (L to R) Priyanka Kedia as Anjali, Ankur Rathee as Ronak, Tanishq Joshi as Vishal, Amryn Khurana as Sumi in Best of the Best. Cr. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix © 2026
The piece for the competition was so cool because it captured Bollywood in its essence, with a hip-hop dance-break. You never quite knew where it was going. The number was going so well until the hair incident, and the music and steps stopped. That moment was such a turning point for all the characters, which added even more! Again, just click play on the film!
That Koh-i-Noor number for the championship was outstanding!
Netflix Best of the Best
PHOTO BY EMILY V. ARAGONES
So many moments I could shine a light on in this superb piece, like the paintings coming to life, the statue that began to contort and pop-lock, the other many dance styles, and the great dancers really made this a piece of art! The moving sets added to it. The story really hit. Every moment and movement was perfectly performed. Each time I watch it, I catch something new. Just watch for the final moments of the dance… I had chills!
Now, I could go on because there are so many other fabulous scenes and moves I could point out, but I really want you to watch and find your own Best of the Best of the Best. So hit it…the play button that is!
