Strictly Come Dancing contestant Punam Krishan and her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez made history on the show by bringing Bollywood music to the ballroom. The duo danced to the iconic Bollywood song Bole Chudiyan from the hit film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, marking the first time in the show’s 20-year history that a competing couple performed to a traditional Bollywood song.
Krishan, a TV doctor, expressed her pride in representing her Scottish Indian heritage on a mainstream platform like Strictly. She emphasized the importance of representation and cultural diversity, stating that she hoped her performance would make her children and other South Asians feel included and proud.
The judges were full of praise for the dance, with three of them awarding the pair eight points and one scoring them nine. Craig Revel Horwood described the performance as “absolutely incredible,” while Motsi Mabuse commended the couple for showcasing Indian culture on the show.
The significance of the moment was not lost on Krishan, who highlighted that while Strictly has featured Indian music before, this was the first time the show represented India’s massive film industry with a Bollywood song. Bole Chudiyan, released in 2001, is a beloved Bollywood tune and was voted the UK’s favorite noughties Bollywood song.
Despite the success of Krishan and Marquez’s performance, DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles was unable to dance due to an injury. Knowles and his partner Luba Mushtuk were set to perform the Charleston to Rain on the Roof from the film Paddington 2 but received a bye to the next week as per the competition rules.
Overall, Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez’s Bollywood performance on Strictly Come Dancing not only made history but also celebrated cultural diversity and representation on a popular television show.
