Cinema VinesAnkur Rathee has stepped onto the international stage with his role in Netflix’s new South Asian dance drama, Best of the Best. The film, which stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Chaneil Kular, and Rathee himself, follows a competitive dance team at UCLA as they navigate identity, ambition, and friendship.
For Rathee, the part of Ronak—a charismatic and fiercely competitive captain—was a chance to revisit a chapter of his own life that had long been set aside. He recalls that playing the character allowed him to tap into the intensity he felt as a college dancer at Princeton, where he was active in both South Asian and contemporary dance teams. “What made Ronak particularly exciting was the opportunity to revisit a part of myself I hadn’t accessed in years,” he said. “I was a college dancer, I’ve lived the intensity of these teams, and I remember what it felt like to be 22 and believe that charisma could carry you through anything.”
Rathee noted that portraying someone younger required him to shed the more restrained acting habits he had developed over the years. He said the challenge was to “strip away the restrained performance instincts I’ve developed as an actor over the years and find that youthful arrogance, vulnerability and impulsiveness again.” In doing so, he felt he returned to a version of himself he thought he had left behind.
Beyond the performance, Rathee brought his experience from Indian cinema to a production steeped in South Asian culture. The film features Bollywood‑inspired dance sequences, Hindi dialogue, and cultural nuances that felt familiar to him. He also dubbed his character’s lines in Hindi and Urdu for Netflix’s international release, underscoring the project’s commitment to authenticity.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the role, Rathee said, “I’ve spent the last decade building my career in India, working across film and streaming, so this opportunity feels like a meaningful evolution rather than a departure from where I come from.” He added that making his Hollywood debut with a film so deeply rooted in the South Asian experience made the project especially special. “To make my Hollywood debut with a film that is so deeply connected to the South Asian experience makes it even more special. I get to take everything I’ve learned as an actor in India and bring that perspective into a global production,” he explained.
Rathee’s journey to the part involved multiple rounds of auditions and chemistry reads with co‑star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. He recalled that the final read allowed the two actors to improvise beyond the script, solidifying the dynamic between their characters. “Working with Maitreyi was one of the most exciting parts of this experience. There was an immediate creative chemistry between us, and she brings such honesty, humor, and unbridled instinct to May,” he said, highlighting the collaborative spirit that helped bring the film’s vibrant world to life.
