Bollywood Comes to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as Punam Krishan Makes Show History

In a landmark moment for “Strictly Come Dancing,” contestant Punam Krishan, alongside her professional dance partner Gorka Márquez, brought Bollywood music to the show’s ballroom in a groundbreaking performance. The pair danced to “Bole Chudiyan,” a hit song from the 2001 Bollywood film “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” marking the first time in the show’s 20-year history that a competing couple has performed to a traditional Bollywood piece.

“I never saw Indian girls dancing on mainstream television, so to be doing an Indian dance on a platform like Strictly, it’s huge,” Krishan said. Proudly identifying as a Scottish Indian, Krishan, whose parents emigrated from Punjab to Glasgow in the 1970s, expressed her desire to showcase her culture and heritage. “In this couple’s choice, I really just want to bring my culture and my heritage to the forefront,” she added.

The judges responded warmly to the performance, with Craig Revel Horwood stating, “I don’t profess to be any authority, darling, on this genre, but what I can see, it was absolutely incredible.” Motsi Mabuse added, “That really moved me. I know so many people are watching you right now and feeling so proud to see this on ‘Strictly Come Dancing.'” Both judges were impressed by the cultural representation and the performance itself.

The performance was particularly significant for Krishan, who expressed in a pre-dance interview on the “Strictly” spin-off show that she hoped her children would “feel really proud” of seeing her perform such a culturally significant routine. “Representation matters, so for me, this is a huge moment,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion on prominent platforms.

This isn’t the first time “Strictly Come Dancing” has featured Indian music, but previous instances were limited to professional dances in a Bollywood style, such as a salsa performed to “Jai Ho” from the film “Slumdog Millionaire” by singer Will Young in 2016. However, this is the first instance where a competing couple has directly represented Bollywood’s colossal film industry.

The 2001 release “Bole Chudiyan” remains a classic within Bollywood, especially for its association with “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” remembered as a family drama featuring Bollywood legends like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kajol. Krishan humorously likened the film to “the Love Actually of Bollywood,” a testament to its status as a beloved comfort movie.

Saturday night’s episode also included performances by other contestants, such as JLS member JB Gill and dancer Amy Dowden, who returned triumphantly after cancer treatment, performing the American Smooth to “Pure Imagination” from ‘Wonka,’ while comedian Chris McCausland danced the jive to the “Wayne’s World Theme.” Unfortunately, Nick Knowles was unable to perform due to an injury incurred during rehearsals, which forced him to withdraw temporarily from the competition.

While Krishan may not be the most widely known figure on her series, her performance underscores how talent can stand out and materially influence the competition’s dynamic. As “Strictly Come Dancing” continues, her historic performance resonates with viewers and upholds the show’s commitment to diversity and cultural representation.