From street dance crews to Bollywood: the rise of Shantanu Maheshwari

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: He began as a student in Mumbai, mastering the intricate arts of Popping and Liquid Waving. Today, he is a global performer who has taken Indian dance culture from local television screens to the prestigious stages of Los Angeles and the University of Oxford.

Born in Kolkata in 1991, Shantanu Maheshwari's trajectory is defined by a seamless blend of urban dance disciplines and mainstream Indian media. While studying at H.R. College of Dublin, he became a key figure in the Street Soul Dance Crew (SSDC), a foundation that eventually led to his leadership of the Desi Hoppers. This crew made history by becoming the first Indian group to represent their country at the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles, securing a victory in 2015.

Maheshwari's fame was initially anchored in youth television, specifically through his four-year run as Swayam Shekhawat in the show Dil Dosti Dance. His popularity extended to international platforms, including performances on America's Got Talent 11 and the Chinese talk show Day Day Up. His versatility is evidenced by his ability to move between genres, from the high-stakes environment of the reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8—where he was dubbed the "silent killer" by director Rohit Shetty—to the cinematic grandeur of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2022 film, Gangubai Kathiawadi.

Beyond entertainment, his influence has reached academic and international summits. He and the Desi Hoppers performed at a social entrepreneur summit at the University of Oxford, appearing alongside notable figures such as Chiwetel Ejiofar and Christiane Amanpour. His career continues to expand into international collaborations, such as the 2025 film Love in Vietnam, a project marking the first cinematic partnership between India and Vietnam.

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