Hasan Minhaj Teams Up With Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Lena Khan, For Netflix

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA Netflix is bringing a burst of rhythm, identity, and youthful spirit to its lineup with Best of the Best, a Bollywood-inspired coming-of-age dance comedy that puts actors Hasan Minhaj and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan center stage.

Directed by Lena Khan, known for Never Have I Ever, the film follows Maya and Anjali—two childhood best friends—through the vibrant, high-stakes world of collegiate Bollywood dance competitions. The story traces their pursuit of a national title while delving into themes of friendship, self-discovery, and cultural roots.

For Ramakrishnan, the project carries personal significance. Sharing her excitement on Instagram, she celebrated the chance to portray a character with Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, writing, “My body is sore but my heart is full,” and adding, “Hope y’all enjoy!”

Minhaj not only stars in the film but also co-wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Prashanth Venkataramanujam. The two are producing through their 186K Films banner. Originally developed at Amazon MGM under the working title For The Culture, the film has since moved to Netflix, signaling the streamer’s continued investment in diasporic South Asian stories.

Khan’s vision aims to highlight the often-overlooked world of college Bollywood dance teams—spaces where identity and artistry meet for many young South Asians navigating dual cultures.

Also joining the cast is Priyanka Kedia, who described the announcement as “surreal” and dedicated the opportunity to her family.