The Story Behind Netflix's Rousing Bollywood Dance Comedy Best of the Best

Netflix’s Best of the Best is a coming-of-age comedy set around collegiate Bollywood dance competitions. The project, created by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam during lockdown, follows Maya, a UCLA freshman who jo ins her school’s renowned Bollywood dance team and challenges longtime friend Anjali for parts and prominence. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, best known for Never Have I Ever, says she auditioned for Maya rather than receiving the role, underscoring that the character was built with real actors in mind. The narrative draws on Minhaj and Venkataramanujam’s college experiences and blends high-energy dance sequences with campus life, academics, and evolving relationships. Priyanka Kedia plays Anjali, a poised counterpoint to Maya’s headstrong drive, as the two navigate friendship, rivalry, and self-discovery. Lena Khan, a Never Have I Ever director, returns to collaborate on the project, while Joya Kazi—co‑choreographer on the earlier season—contributes a dance vocabulary influenced by Kathak and contemporary Bollywood. The movie, scheduled to stream on Netflix on Sept. 18, emphasizes fusion choreography and cultural identity within a modern American‑South Asian milieu. Minhaj praises Ramakrishnan’s “It” factor and comedic brilliance, noting she earned the role through work and performance, not hand‑me‑downs. The project also signals a broader exploration of how arts, identity, and friendship shape young South Asian lives in North America.