No ways is this an exhaustive list, but here are some of the most pivotal moments in Bollywood history that defined the way the nation danced.
Helen
Item numbers are a dime a dozen nowadays, all looking the same. But that wasn’t the case when Helen was in her prime. Aged 19 years old when she got her first big break in Howrah Bridge (1958), performing the song “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu”, before which she was a group dancer in different films. Post that, she was flooded with offers in the 60s and 70s, and the hit performances which she gave are too many to list, but “Piya Tu Ab To Aja” from Caravan (1971) definitely stand out, considered as ‘the’ cabaret item number.
Mithun Chakraborty
With Disco Dancer (1982), Mithun da gave a hit whose popularity extended overseas, especially in the Soviet Union. Unlike the Angry Young Man of Amitabh Bachchan, Jimmy fought the villains of the film with his dance moves, lead to several disco films.
Madhuri Dixit
With the dance number Ek Do Teen in the action drama Tezaab (1988), Madhuri Dixit became a sensation overnight. With lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the girl playfully asks her lover to return before the month gets over. Add to that choreography by Saroj Khan and Madhuri’s skills, and we had a chartbuster.
Govinda
He burst onto the Bollywood dance scene with his debut Love 86 (1986). His dance style was difficult to match, as with the years he matched it with playful style that became his signature. And who can forget him dancing to Pak Chik Pak in Raja Babu (1994) wearing a Michael Jackson inspired black jacket.
Karisma Kapoor
Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997) put three energetic dancers together: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor. While Madhuri and Karishma’s dance off is spoken about, Karisma had given a number of fun dance performances in the 90s, What Is Mobile Number and Main Toh Raste Se Ja Raha Tha, both with Govinda, seem to be the most popular ones.
Jaaved Jaaferi
India was introduced to Jaaved Jaaferi’s superb dancing skills with Meri Jung (1985), simultaneously playing a villain, he showcased his skills in several other movies, like the forgotten Rock Dancer (1995) and gave us Boogie Woogie, the best Indian dance competition television series ever.
Hrithik Roshan
The year was 2000. And Hrithik Roshan gave us probably Bollywood’s most impressive dance in Ek Pal Ka Jeena from Kaho Na Pyaar Hai.
But wait a minute, how can we forget Prabhudeva in Mukkabla from Kadhalan (1994), going invisible at the end of the dance?
