48 21st century Indian dancers

Mansi Aggarwal is an Indian choreographer who has choreographed dances in Bollywood movies. She is best known for choreographing the song, 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, from the movie Shanghai that starred actor Emraan Hashmi - the song gained a lot of popularity and became a 'hit' in India. She has worked with notable actors such as Sushant Singh Rajput in the award-winning movie, Kai Po Che, and with Abhay Deol in the movie Dev D. The song 'Suno Na Sangemarmar' that she choreographed was nominated for Stardust and Filmfare awards.

Malaika Arora is an Indian actress, dancer, model, VJ, and television personality, who is best known for her all-rounded work throughout Hindi cinema. She made her debut as a film producer in 2008, with former husband Arbaaz Khan, founding the company Arbaaz Khan Productions, which has created the Dabangg film series. As an actress, Arora has starred in main roles in films Kaante (2002) and EMI (2008). As a dancer, she is acclaimed for her performances in the songs Chaiyya Chaiyya (1998), Gur Naalo Ishq Mitha (1998), Maahi Ve (2002), Kaal Dhamaal (2005), and Munni Badnaam Hui (2010).

Bir Radha Sherpa is an Indian dancer, who is renowned for winning- Dance Plus and Dance Champions.

Bosco–Caesar is an Indian choreographer duo who work in Bollywood. They are Bosco Martis and Caesar Gonsalves, who have together worked on 200 songs and about 75 films. They run the Bosco Caesar Dance Company in Brampton, Scarborough, Mumbai, Phoolbagan, and Salt Lake in Kolkata.

Bhoomika Dash is an Indian film actress and classical dancer who is known for her acting in the Odia film industry. She appeared first in Rumku Jhumana Movie as a child actor. Then she made her first ollywood movie as a lead actress in Tu mo love story. which gave her shining fame into Ollywood and became famous in East Indian movie industry.

Prerana Deshpande is a recognized Indian exponent of Kathak dance.

Aishwarya Rajinikanth Dhanush is an Indian film director and playback singer. She is the elder daughter of actor Rajinikanth. She made her feature film debut with 3 (2012) starring her husband Dhanush.

Nandini Ghosal is an Indian Bengali classical dancer, choreographer and actress. After making her acting debut in the 1997 drama film Char Adhyay, Nandini played leading role in several Bengali films, such as Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap (1999) and a Malayalam movie Sthithi (2003).

Kalamandalam Girija is an Indian Kutiyattam dancer. She was trained by Natyakalasarvabhowman Guru Painkulam Rama Chakyar, who played a key role in the renaissance of this genre of Indian Sanskrit Theatre & Dance. Girija was chosen by her Guru to be the first non-Nangiar student to learn Kutiyattam and she became the part of the history as the first Kutiyattam actress to perform the art outside the temple premises. She is an empanelled artist of the ICCR.

Lakshmi Gopalaswamy is an Indian film actress from Karnataka and a classical dancer, qualified in Bharatanatyam. She is mainly acted in Malayalam Films and few Tamil and Kannada films. She has also acted in some TV serials. She won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in her Kannada film Vidaya. Her debut Malayalam film Arayannangalude Veedu alongside Mammootty won her the Kerala State Film Award as the best supporting actor. She was a judge on Asianet's dance show Vodafone Thakadhimi..

Gayathri Govind, is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, actor and the winner of Asianet's Vodafone Thakadimi in 2008.

Manisha Gulyani is a Kathak dancer from India. She is a disciple of Pt. Girdhari Maharaj, an ICCR Kathak artiste and teacher cum performer for ICC centres at abroad. She has presented her art on various eminent platforms in India and abroad.

Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi is an Indian classical dancer of Odissi, art writer, a biologist and a former vice chancellor of Sambalpur University. Born on 18 November 1935, she secured a master's degree and subsequently, obtained a doctoral degree in zoology. She also learnt Odissi from an early age under Ban Bihari Maiti and her Odissi performance at the Inter-University Youth Festival in New Delhi in 1954 is reported to have helped the dance form to gain international attention through Charles Fabri, the renowned art critic from Hungary, who was present at the function.

Aditi Rao Hydari is an Indian actress, dancer and singer who works in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. She made her on-screen debut with Malayalam film Prajapathi in 2006. For the Tamil film Sringaram in 2007, she played the role of a devadasi.

Padmapriya Janakiraman, better known mononymously as Padmapriya, is an Indian film actress and model. She is a trained bharatanatyam dancer, Padmapriya made her acting debut in the Telugu language film Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi in 2003, following which she appeared in a number of Malayalam and Tamil language films. In a span of five years, she has appeared in nearly 50 films in South India and has received several awards. She is best known for her critically acclaimed performances in the Malayalam films Kaazhcha, Karutha Pakshikal, Pazhassi Raja and Tamil films Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Mirugam.

Harinie Jeevitha is a dancer, Bachelor of Literature, choreographer and an Indian Classical dancer. The disciple of Smt Sheela Unnikrishnan of Sridevi Nrithyalaya, she started dancing at the young age of six in the Melattur style of Bharathanatyam (Bharatanatyam).

Raghav Juyal is an Indian dancer, choreographer, actor and television presenter. He has been called King of Slow Motion for his surreal dance moves in slow motion style and for his reinvention of the Slow Motion Walk in India.

Geeta Kapoor is an Indian choreographer in Bollywood, and is one of the judges for the Indian reality dance talent show Dance India Dance, Super Dancer, India Ke Mast Kalandar and India's Best Dancer.

Shamna Kasim, also known by the stage name Poorna, is an Indian film actress, professional dancer and model. She is known for her work in the South Indian film Industry. She started her career as a classical dancer and came into the entertainment industry following her participation in the reality-based dance competition Super Dancer on Amrita TV. She made her acting debut in the 2004 Malayalam film Manju Poloru Penkutty. Her debut Telugu movie came with Sri Mahalakshmi, while playing the lead female character in her first Tamil film, Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu.

Ahmed Khan is an Indian choreographer, producer, director, and writer. After a period of acting, he has moved into film choreography, as well as writing, producing, and directing various Bollywood projects. In 2019, Khan also was on the judging panel of the celebrity dance show Nach Baliye 9 on Star Plus.

Farah Khan Kunder, née Farah Khan, is an Indian film director, film producer, actress, dancer and choreographer best known for her choreographic dance work in numerous Bollywood films. She has choreographed dance routines for more than a hundred songs in over 80 Hindi films, winning six Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography and the National Film Award for Best Choreography. In addition, she has worked on Tamil films and also in international projects, such as Marigold: An Adventure in India, Monsoon Wedding, Bombay Dreams and the Chinese films Perhaps Love and Kung Fu Yoga, earning Tony Award and Golden Horse Award nominations. She has since become a film director as well, with nominations for the Filmfare Best Director Award for her directorial debut Main Hoon Na (2004) and her second directorial venture Om Shanti Om (2007).

Saroj Khan was an Indian dance choreographer in Hindi cinema. She was born in Bombay State, India. She was best known for Dance Form Mujra and the first woman choreographer in Bollywood. With a career spanning over forty years, she choreographed more than 3000 songs. She died on 3 July 2020 of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Kalamandalam Kshemavathy is a Mohiniyattam dancer from Thrissur, Kerala. She is an alumna of the reputed Kerala Kalamandalam. She joined the institute when she was ten. After completion of the course, she undertook advanced training in Bharata Natyam under Muthuswamy Pillai and Chitra Visweswaran, and in Kuchipudi under Vempati Chinna Satyam, but chose to remain within the Mohiniyattam tradition. She has been in the field for 47 years.

Thankamani Kutty is an Indian dancer. She is a Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam maestro and eminent dance teacher. She, and her late husband Govindan Kutty, are widely known for their contributions in promoting South Indian dance, music and theatre in West Bengal.

Murugashankari Leo is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artiste, teacher of Bharatantyam, theatre actor and research scholar. Bharatantyam is an ancient Indian classical dance form which is known for its beauty, grace and uniqueness. Murugashankari performs this world-renowned art form Bharatanatyam and has given many recitals across India and in other countries. She runs an institution Kalai Koodam – Academy of Performing Arts in Chennai and Madurai where training in Bharatanatyam is imparted. She is also trained in Carnatic music and Nattuvangam.

Hema Malini is an Indian film actress, writer, director, producer, dancer and politician. She is considered one of the most successful actresses of her time in Hindi cinema history. In 1963, she made her acting debut in the Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam. Malini first acted in a main role in Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), and went on to feature in numerous Bollywood films, primarily as the lead actress. In most of her films, she starred opposite her husband Dharmendra and with Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand. Malini was initially promoted as the "Dream Girl", and in 1977 starred in a film of the same name. She has played both comic and dramatic roles, as well as being a dancer. She was one of the highest paid Indian actresses from 1976 to 1980.

Aparna B. Marar is an Indian classical danseuse from Kerala. She has attained accomplishment as a dancer, organiser, art educator, choreographer and singer. She is also an engineer with a postgraduate degree in wireless communication engineering from PSG College of Technology. She has received numerous honours including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy's Yuva Prathibha Award, Calicut University's Kalathilakam Award, and a national scholarship by Ministry of Culture.

Seema Kaushik Mehta is an Indian Karatha expert and designer of jewellery. She received the Nari Shakti Puraskar award for her dancing advocacy in 2019 after working with under-privileged children in Mumbai.

Vaibhavi Merchant is an Indian dance choreographer working in Bollywood films.She has won National Film Award for Best Choreography for the song Dholi Taaro Dhol Baaje from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999.

Mukti Mohan is a contemporary dancer from India. She participated in Star One's dance reality show Zara Nachke Dikha. She was part of the winning team "Masakkali Girls". She also appeared in the comedy show Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo on Sony Entertainment Television, with Kapil Sharma as her comedy partner, replacing Kavita. Recently she featured in Coke Studio season 4 video of the song "Teriyaan Tu Jaane", by Amit Trivedi. She has hosted the second season of Dil Hai Hindustani along with Raghav Juyal. She has also participated in the Jhalak Dikhla Jaa wild card entry. Mohan has also appeared in the films Blood Brothers, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, Hate Story and Daruvu. Currently, she is appearing in a YouTube web series Inmates of the popular YouTube channel TVF. She also appears on Nach Baliye 7. The Indian play back singer Neeti Mohan and dancer Shakti Mohan are her elder sisters.

Baisali Mohanty is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, author, columnist and analyst of foreign and public policy. She is a regular contributor on foreign policy and strategic affairs to several prestigious international publications including American business magazine Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Diplomat and openDemocracy, London. She is the founder of Oxford Odissi Centre that is involved in promotion and training of Odissi dance at University of Oxford and other leading institutions in the United Kingdom.

Sharmistha Mukherjee is an Indian Kathak dancer, choreographer and politician of the Indian National Congress.

Sajna Najam is an Indian dance choreographer who has worked in all the regional film industries. She started her career in 2000 in television and stage events, before working in films. She won the Kerala state award for best choreographer for 2014, film Vikramadithyan directed by Lal Jose. Veteran film actor Prem Nazir is a relative.

Nirupama and Rajendra are noted Indian classical dancers in the Bharathanatyam and Kathak dance forms. They are from Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Arushi Nishank Pant is an Indian classical dancer and environmentalist. She is the chairperson of Himalayan Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital in Dehradun.

Namrrta Raai is an Indian classical Kathak dancer and choreographer. She is a disciple of Late Dr. Madhukar Anand and Pt. Udai Mazumdar.

Anita Ratnam is an Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer. Classically trained in Bharat Natyam, she has also received formal training in Kathakali, Mohiniattam, and T'ai chi and Kalarippayattu, thus creating a dance style which she has coined "Neo Bharat Natyam".

Bhavana Reddy is a Kuchipudi Indian classical dancer, singer, songwriter, and guru/teacher. She is the younger daughter and disciple of famous dancing couple Padma Bhushans Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy.

Yamini Reddy is Indian classical dancer, a kuchipudi exponent.

Gulabo Sapera is a dancer from Rajasthan, India.

Mallika Sarabhai is an activist and Indian classical dancer and actress from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Daughter of a classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer and performer who has specialized in using the arts for social change and transformation.

Asha Sharath is an Indian classical dancer and actress who predominantly works in Malayalam films and Malayalam TV serials. She is a well versed dancer in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali. She rose to fame through the TV soap Kumkumapoovu (2011–14). She's popular for her roles in the films Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013), Drishyam (2013), Varsham (2014), Angels (2014), Papanasam (2015), King Liar (2016), Anuraga Karikkin Vellam (2016), Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (2017), Pullikkaran Staraa (2017), and Bhaagamathie (2018). She won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the films Drishyam and Anuraga Karikkin Vellam. She has also worked in the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries.

Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, better known mononymously as Shobana, is an Indian film actress and bharatanatyam dancer. She acts predominantly in Malayalam language, in addition to Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and English language films. She has won two National Film Awards, one Kerala State Film Awards and numerous other awards.

Meenu Thakur is an Indian Kuchipudi dance exponent. She runs an institution ‘SURAMYA’ for teaching Kuchipudi to young learners in Delhi NCR.

Kapila Venu is a practitioner of Kutiyattam and a disciple of the Kutiyattam maestro Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar. She is being mentored by Kutiyattam exponent and actor trainer Gopalan Nair Venu, also known as G Venu, who is also her father. She has also trained under Usha Nangiar and Kitangur C N Rama Chakyar in Kutiyattam, Nirmala Paniker, her mother, in Mohiniyattam and studied under the guidance of Japanese Farmer/Dancer Min Tanaka in Japan.

Vineeth Radhakrishnan is an Indian film actor, classical dancer and voice artist, who primarily works in Malayalam and Tamil language films. He has also starred in a few Telugu, Kannada and Hindi language films.

Malavika Wales is an Indian film and television actress and classical dancer. She hails from a Malayali family from Thrissur. She made her acting debut in Malarvaadi Arts Club. She rose into fame as Ponnu of television series Ponnambili aired in Mazhavil Manorama.

Rajashree Warrier is a Bharata Natyam dancer, educator and media person. She is also a writer in Malayalam and a vocalist. She holds a PhD in Music for her research in Varnas in Dual Forms She is the founder director of 'UTTARIKA, Centre for Performing Arts', focusing on research and training in Bharata Natyam, carnatic music and experimental theatre. She is the Executive Member for Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy since April 2016.