Lena Khan on Netflix's 'Best of the Best': Bollywood Fusion Dance, Hasan Minhaj, and Directing Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Lena Khan's new Netflix film 'Best of the Best' follows two childhood friends who join UCLA's competitive Bollywood fusion dance team and face a tough path to the U.S. Championship. Khan discusses collaborating with Hasan Minhaj and instructing Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to channel a specific energetic performance style. The movie premieres on Netflix on Friday.
The film centers on Maya and Anjali, childhood friends who enter UCLA's competitive Bollywood fusion dance scene, a campus tradition that has flourished for decades yet seldom reached scripted cinema. Khan's production marks a rare mainstream spotlight on this subculture, with Netflix providing global distribution.
Khan directed Maitreyi Ramakrishnan with instructions to embody a high-energy, charismatic performance style, while Hasan Minhaj contributes to the project in a collaborative capacity. The film's Friday premiere positions it as a weekend release targeting both South Asian diaspora audiences and broader dance-film enthusiasts.
This release could expand mainstream recognition of Bollywood fusion dance, a collegiate art form largely unknown beyond campus communities. It may also boost representation for South Asian American stories in family-friendly entertainment, potentially influencing how streaming platforms evaluate similar culturally specific projects. Younger audiences, particularly South Asian youth, could see themselves reflected in lead roles, while the film's Netflix reach may spark renewed interest in competitive dance as both sport and cultural expression.