Famous Indian Dancers

Nora Fatehi is a popular figure in the Indian film industry. Although born and raised in Canada. Nora has worked in Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi language films. She was part of one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever - Baahubali: The Beginning. Apart from appearing in films, she has also made a mark in the TV industry.

Nicknamed the Young Tiger and Jr. NTR, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. is the grandson of legendary Telugu actor-politian N.T. Rama Rao. A talented Kuchipudi dancer in his youth, he was a child actor, too. Now known for films such as Nannaku Prematho and Yamadonga, he also won two Filmfare Awards.

Born Prabhu Sundaram, Prabhu Deva soared to fame with the song Mukkabla from Kadhalan. Born to a movie choreographer father, he followed in his footsteps to learn classical dance at an early age. The Padma Shri- and two-time National Award-winning dancer later gravitated to acting and direction.

Pawan Kalyan is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, stunt coordinator, politician, and philanthropist. Best known for his work in the Telugu film industry, Pawan Kalyan is one of the most popular actors of his generation. He is also known for his humanitarian work; he is credited with establishing a charitable organization called Common Man Protection Force.

Hema Malini is an Indian actress, writer, director, dancer, producer, and politician. She was one of the leadings actresses of Hilndi films during 1970s and 1980s. Hema Malini is also known for her association with social causes; she is a supporter of organizations like PETA India. Her life and career have inspired three biographical books so far.

Raghav Juyal is an Indian dancer, actor, and television presenter. He is best known for reinventing and popularizing the Slow Motion Walk dance move in India. He is nicknamed King of Slow Motion for his unusual dance moves that look like a slow-motion video clip. He has appeared in many Indian dance films like ABCD 2 and Street Dancer 3D.

Celebrated choreographer Remo D'Souza was a skilled athlete in his school days and quit studies after the 12th standard. The self-taught dancer revered Michael Jackson in his younger days. His choreography in Bajirao Mastani won him a National Award. He has also judged several seasons of Dance India Dance.

Sanjeeda Sheikh is an Indian actress best known for her work in the Hindi television industry. Over the years, Sanjeeda Sheikh has cemented her position as one of the most beautiful, popular, and talented actresses in the television industry. Also renowned for her dancing skills, she has won dance reality competition shows like Nach Baliye 3 and Zara Nachke Dikha 2.

While she initially made her mark as Charu in the soap Kahin To Hoga and as Kasak in Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Surveen Chawla later stepped into films with movies such as Hate Story 2 and Himmatwala. She also won a IFFLA award for her performance in Parched.

Popular Indian dancer and actor Sudha Chandran was a phenomenal dancer since her early years. She was 16 when she lost her right leg after developing gangrene, following an accident. Sudha continued to perform, wearing a prosthetic leg, and went on win a National Award for the film Mayuri.

Revathi was discovered by director Bharathi Raja when he chanced upon a photo of hers, clicked at a school fashion show and later featured on a magazine cover. The three-time National Award-winning actor is known for movies such as Mitr, My Friend and Thevar Magan. She is also a talented Bharatanatyam dancer.

Along with her sisters Lalitha and Ragini, Padmini was part of the Travancore sisters of the 1940s’ South Indian film industry. A trained Bharatanatyam dancer, she later won a Filmfare award for the Hindi movie Kajal and a Filmfare nomination for Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai.

Shobana is an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer and film actress. Widely regarded as one of the best Bharatanatyam dancers, Shobana was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2006. She is also renowned for her acting skills, winning two National Film Awards for Best Actress for her performances in Manichitrathazhu (1993) and Mitr, My Friend (2001).

Padma Shri- and Padma Bhushan-winning classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai received a unique education, having been part of both the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Shantiniketan. She specialized in Bharatnatyam and Kathakali, and later launched her own dance academy, along with her physicist husband Vikram Sarabhai.

Mallika Sarabhai is an Indian classical dancer, activist, and actress. She is best known as the daughter of prominent space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. An accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, Mallika Sarabhai uses the dance forms to bring about a social change. She is the recipient of Gujarat's prestigious Gaurav Puraskar and India's third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan.

Vikrant Massey is an Indian actor best known for his association with the Hindi film and TV industry. Apart from appearing in films and TV series, Massey has also played important roles in several short films and web series. In 2008, Vikrant Massey was honored with the GR8! Face of the Year Award at the Indian Telly Awards.

Manju Warrier is an Indian actress, producer, director, dancer, and singer known for her work in the Malayalam film industry. One of the most celebrated actresses of her generation, Warrier has received many awards like Filmfare Awards South, Kerala State Film Award, and a National Film Award. She is a founding member of an organization named Women in Cinema Collective.

Rukmini Devi Arundale was an Indian dancer and choreographer. An exponent of Bharatanatyam, Rukmini Devi helped revive the original sadhir style of the dance form. She also popularized Bharatanatyam among Indian upper-caste elites for which she was named in India Today's 100 People Who Shaped India list. In 1956, Rukmini Devi Arundale was honored with the Padma Bhushan.

Along with her younger sister, Shantipriya, Bhanupriya rocked the Tamil and Telugu film industries in the 1980s and the 1990s. The three-time Nandi Award winner is known for hits such as Swarnakamalam and Chatrapati. She bagged her debut film, Mella Pesungal, after impressing director Bharathi Raja with her dance skills.

Meenakshi Seshadri is an Indian former actress, dancer, and model. A former beauty queen, Meenakhsi Seshadri became one of the leading Bollywood actresses during the 1980s and 1990s. After retiring as an actress, Meenakshi Seshadri started running Cherish Dance School in the USA. Her life and work inspired a documentary titled Meenakshi Accept Her Wings which was released in 2006.

Birju Maharaj was an Indian dancer and singer. An exponent of the popular classical dance form Kathak, he was one of the most celebrated Kathak dancers ever. He won many prestigious awards like the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar, and India's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.

Sukumari was an Indian actress known for her contribution to Tamil and Malayalam films. One of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation, Sukumari acted in over 2,500 films in a career that spanned over 50 years. In 2003, she was honored with the Padma Shri. In 2011, she won the National Film Award for her performance in Namma Gramam. 

Saroj Khan was an Indian dancer and choreographer best remembered for her work in Hindi cinema. The first female choreographer in Bollywood, Khan choreographed over 3000 movie songs in an illustrious career spanning more than four decades. Saroj Khan was honored with several prestigious awards, including three National Film Awards under the Best Choreography category.

Vyjayanthimala is an Indian actress and dancer who played a major role in the Hindi film industry during the 1950s and 1960s. One of the most popular actresses of all time, Vyjayanthimala is also known for her contribution to South Indian movies. She is the recipient of several awards, including Filmfare Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards at International film festivals.   

Apart from being a talented Bharatnatyam dancer, Sukanya has also made her mark as an actor in South Indian films. She won a Filmfare for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Innathe Chintha Vishayam. She has also appeared in series and has released two devotional albums.

Vineeth is an Indian classical dancer, actor, choreographer, and voice artist. He is renowned for playing important roles in many south Indian movies, especially Malayalam and Tamil films. A celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer, Vineeth is the recipient of many prestigious awards, such as the Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu government.   

Debashree Roy is an Indian dancer, choreographer, actress, animal rights activist, and politician. Best known for her work in the Bengali film industry, Debashree Roy has won several awards like the National Film Award. She is credited with establishing the Debasree Roy Foundation, which aims at helping stray animals.

Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and choreographer. Best known for his work in the Telugu film industry, Rao is one of the most bankable directors of Telugu cinema ever. His contribution has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as Nandi Awards, Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA Awards, and IIFA Awards. 

Krishna Vamsi is an Indian film producer, director, and choreographer best known for his work in the Telugu film industry. Vamsi is credited with directing and producing critically acclaimed as well as successful films. His efforts have been honored with four Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and two National Film Awards so far.

Muktha is an Indian actress best known for her work in the Tamil and Malayalam film and television industries. Apart from being an actress, Muktha is also an entrepreneur and a classical dancer. Her performance in her debut Tamil movie Thaamirabharani earned her a nomination at the Vijay Awards.

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio was an Anglo-Indian poet who became the assistant headmaster of Hindu College, Kolkata. He was born to a Christian Indo-Portuguese father and an English mother in British India. A brilliant young man, he was a radical thinker of his time, and his activities kindled the intellectual revolution in Bengal. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 22.  

Lakshmi Gopalaswamy is an Indian classical dancer and actress. Best known for her work in Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam films, Gopalaswamy has won many prestigious awards like Kerala State Film Awards, Karnataka State Film Awards, and Filmfare Awards South. An exponent of Bharatanatyam, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy has also appeared on TV as a judge for a dance show titled Thakadhimi.

Sheela Rajkumar is an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer and film actress best known for her work in the Tamil film and TV industry. She achieved popularity after playing Amudha in the 2017 drama film To Let which earned her a couple of award nominations. Rajkumar is also known for her portrayal of Thenmozhi in the 2021 political satire television film Mandela. 

Kalaranjini is an Indian classical dancer and actress best known for her work in the Tamil and Malayalam film and TV industries. She is also known as the older sister of popular actresses Kalpana and Urvashi. Kalaranjini achieved popularity in the 1980s when she was regarded as one of the most successful actresses.

Sonal Mansingh is an Indian classical dancer best known for her skills as an Odissi and Bharatanatyam dancer. Over the years, Mansingh has been honored with several prestigious awards like Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. In 2003, she became only the second woman after Balasaraswati to be honored with India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.

Prabha is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer and actress best known for her work in the Telugu film industry. The recipient of two Nandi Awards, Prabha has acted alongside popular stars like Akkineni Nageswara Rao and N. T. Rama Rao. As a Kuchipudi dancer, Prabha has given 40 performances in the United States of America.

Remembered as a cultural icon of Assam, Bishnu Prasad Rabha is popularly known as the Assamese Leonardo da Vinci and Kalaguru. A musician known for composing Rabha Sangeet, he also penned poems and was a skilled dancer. He was later associated with the Revolutionary Communist Party of India.

Yamini Krishnamurthy is an Indian dancer best known for her skills in popular dance forms like Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. She is credited with founding the Yamini School of Dance where she teaches. Yamini Krishnamurthy has been honored with many awards, such as the Padma Vibhushan. She also has the honor of being a resident dancer of the Tirupati temple.