In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, dancer-actor Shantanu Maheshwari opens up about his inspiring journey from discovering his passion for dance at a young age to building a successful career on the global stage. Reflecting on his beginnings, challenges and the discipline dance instilled in him, Shantanu shares heartfelt insights about staying true to the art form, evolving as an artist and the life-changing impact dance has had on him
Tejal Sinha
tejal.sinha30@gmail.com
As the world gears up to celebrate International Dance Day on April 29, it’s only fitting to spotlight artists whose journeys have been deeply defined by dance. One such name is Shantanu Maheshwari—an actor, dancer, choreographer and anchor who has made an indelible mark both nationally and internationally. From founding the dance crew Desi Hoppers to winning accolades on global platforms, Shantanu’s journey is a testament to passion, discipline and resilience. In a conversation reflecting on his journey, the Dil Dosti Dance fame opens up about how dance found him, shaped him and continues to drive him forward.
To begin this exclusive chat with The Pioneer, he recalls that it was his teacher, Anurag Mohta, who first inspired him to dance. “I always wanted to dance like him,” he shares. However, taking up dance as a career was initially not a choice born out of passion but necessity. “Our monetary conditions back then were not very good. So I had to start taking dance classes, as dance was something I was well-versed with. I never initially enjoyed it, but I made sure that I never taught anyone in a disinterested manner so that his or her aspiration for dance does not die,” Shantanu reveals. Aware of the responsibility that came with teaching, he ensured that his students’ dreams were always nurtured with sincerity.
Over time, however, dance grew from a means of livelihood into a passion. “Though with time, I understood that dance was my passion and there is nothing else that I feel so strongly about, so why not take this up as a career,” says Shantanu. His love affair with dance began early—at the age of seven—through active participation in numerous competitions. “From there, I just took things forward and became clear about wanting to make dance a career option for myself,” he adds.
When it comes to his favourite dance style, the Campus Beat star expresses his fondness for Bollywood dance. “This style is a mix of everything. For me, this style of dance has more of the South flavour of dance,” he explains. Shantanu highlights how Bollywood dancing incorporates elements like popping, breaking, locking and even traditional folk styles. “Bollywood dancing is actually more of freestyle dancing and it has no boundaries. There is a lot of freedom to explore with this style of dancing,” he enthuses.
On how he prepares for performances, he goes on to elaborate, “I just start with understanding what is required for the particular performance. Then rehearse for it as much as I can, till the time I feel confident about what I am rehearsing—be it memorising the steps or performing them the way I want to.” He stresses the importance of mental and physical preparedness: “Mentally, once I am very sure of the choreography, then I know I am there and the mental confidence to be able to pull off that entire act is set within me. On the physical front, besides keeping my body fit, practicing things under the right guidance and understanding the technicalities of that act are what I ensure for myself.”
Reflecting on advice for aspiring dancers, Shantanu shares, “I always maintain that be true to the art and art will give you back a lot. So firstly entering the industry for the right reasons is important. Things like money and fame will definitely be found, but sustaining is the key here and that is only going to happen with hard work and being true to your passion for dance.” He underlines the importance of humility and openness to criticism: “Being open to healthy criticism is definitely important. You might think you are the best with what you are doing, but there will always be someone a notch higher than you. So it’s best to be humble, keep learning, be true to the art, and keep growing as an artist.”
Dance, for Shantanu, has been transformative beyond the stage. “Dance has given me a lot! It has introduced me to acting, it has introduced me to a lot of people, taken me to so many different places I would have never even imagined getting to,” he shares. It opened countless avenues for exploration and personal growth. “Dance helped me gain confidence within myself. Dance has been my core strength,” he says proudly.
Shantanu also acknowledges the influence of international dance competitions on his discipline and lifestyle. “Whenever I have participated in international dance competitions, the discipline they have is something I have always looked up to. Not only has that inspired me but I have also tried to incorporate it into my lifestyle,” he explains. For him, dancers are nothing short of athletes. “You have to train and maintain your body like an athlete. You have to keep working hard towards that discipline,” he states, adding that this mindset has helped him understand food intake, body anatomy, and even boosted his self-confidence.
Being the co-founder of Desi Hoppers, Shantanu also took on logistical responsibilities. “Dance also helped me learn international travel requirements for competitions better, as being a co-founder of our crew Desi Hoppers, all of that was my responsibility. All these things put together helped me explore so many avenues and helped me extensively grow as a human being and an artist,” he concludes.
