Geeta Kapur on what reel culture gets right and wrong about Bollywood dance
Geeta Kapur shared her thoughts on the rise of reel culture, saying social media has amplified dance trends but cannot replace the lasting impact of Bollywood's iconic hook steps.
For choreographer and television personality Geeta Kapur, dance has never been a static relationship. It has evolved with every phase of her life: from a childhood hobby to a profession, and eventually a lifelong companion that has kept her relevant across generations. She has returned as a judge on India’s Best Dancer Season 5.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Kapur reflected on her decades-long journey with dance and how the art form continues to reinvent itself.
“My initial love for dance was just a hobby. My mother wanted to keep me busy and realised I had a sense of rhythm. Then dance became my bread and butter. If you’re not in love with your craft, you cannot evolve with it,” she said.
Over the years, dance gave Kapur more than a career. As she transitioned from performer to mentor and judge, she found new reasons to stay connected to the art.
“My love for dance has evolved because dance has kept me evolving and kept me relevant for so many years. It runs my house, keeps me going and keeps me young at heart,” she said.
Having judged multiple dance reality shows, Kapur has witnessed first-hand how dance styles have transformed. She believed today’s dancers arrive far more prepared and specialised than contestants from earlier generations.
“India’s Best Dancer brings talent that is already evolved in a particular genre. That puts us judges in a quandary because we have to go home and do our homework. How do you critique something that you don’t know? The contestants force us to understand what is happening in the world of dance,” she said.
Kapur credited reality television for exposing Indian audiences to global styles ranging from samba and waltz to hip-hop and animation. However, she feels the conversation is now shifting back towards Bollywood itself.
“For years, we served samba, waltz, hip-hop and everything else on a Bollywood platter. Now we want to serve Bollywood on a Bollywood platter and remind people not to forget their roots and culture,” she said.
According to Kapur, Bollywood dance remains one of India’s most unique cultural exports because it seamlessly blends storytelling, music and movement.
“The entire world looks at Bollywood and says it’s impossible to sing, dance and make it look real, but that’s exactly what Bollywood has done for us,” she said.
The choreographer also believes Bollywood’s iconic hook-step culture has faded in recent years, though she expects a revival.
“You remember hook steps and dancing superstars. For me, Hrithik Roshan was one of the last great dancing superstars. Then Ranveer Singh brought back some of that flavour. Bollywood will come back with a bang when songs start creating hook steps with real recall value again,” she said.
As short-form content dominates social media, Kapur sees both continuity and contrast between today’s viral dance trends and Bollywood’s legacy.
“It’s great to have social media, but remember that what people are doing today is something we did long ago without social media. How will you be remembered in 15 or 30 seconds unless you have a hook step? The idea of a hook step comes from Bollywood,” she said.
Yet she believes the biggest difference lies in longevity. Viral trends, she argues, disappear almost as quickly as they emerge. “These reels are very short-lived because there’s always something new coming the next day,” Kapur said.
“Ask someone about the first viral reel and they may not remember. But ask them about Helen and they’ll instantly remember something. There is a bank in Bollywood that never fades away. Hold on to your roots. Hold on to your culture,” she added.
Season 5 of India’s Best Dancer premiered on June 6 on Sony TV and Sony LIV.
For choreographer and television personality Geeta Kapur, dance has never been a static relationship. It has evolved with every phase of her life: from a childhood hobby to a profession, and eventually a lifelong companion that has kept her relevant across generations. She has returned as a judge on India’s Best Dancer Season 5.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Kapur reflected on her decades-long journey with dance and how the art form continues to reinvent itself.
“My initial love for dance was just a hobby. My mother wanted to keep me busy and realised I had a sense of rhythm. Then dance became my bread and butter. If you’re not in love with your craft, you cannot evolve with it,” she said.
Over the years, dance gave Kapur more than a career. As she transitioned from performer to mentor and judge, she found new reasons to stay connected to the art.
“My love for dance has evolved because dance has kept me evolving and kept me relevant for so many years. It runs my house, keeps me going and keeps me young at heart,” she said.
Having judged multiple dance reality shows, Kapur has witnessed first-hand how dance styles have transformed. She believed today’s dancers arrive far more prepared and specialised than contestants from earlier generations.
“India’s Best Dancer brings talent that is already evolved in a particular genre. That puts us judges in a quandary because we have to go home and do our homework. How do you critique something that you don’t know? The contestants force us to understand what is happening in the world of dance,” she said.
Kapur credited reality television for exposing Indian audiences to global styles ranging from samba and waltz to hip-hop and animation. However, she feels the conversation is now shifting back towards Bollywood itself.
“For years, we served samba, waltz, hip-hop and everything else on a Bollywood platter. Now we want to serve Bollywood on a Bollywood platter and remind people not to forget their roots and culture,” she said.
According to Kapur, Bollywood dance remains one of India’s most unique cultural exports because it seamlessly blends storytelling, music and movement.
“The entire world looks at Bollywood and says it’s impossible to sing, dance and make it look real, but that’s exactly what Bollywood has done for us,” she said.
The choreographer also believes Bollywood’s iconic hook-step culture has faded in recent years, though she expects a revival.
“You remember hook steps and dancing superstars. For me, Hrithik Roshan was one of the last great dancing superstars. Then Ranveer Singh brought back some of that flavour. Bollywood will come back with a bang when songs start creating hook steps with real recall value again,” she said.
As short-form content dominates social media, Kapur sees both continuity and contrast between today’s viral dance trends and Bollywood’s legacy.
“It’s great to have social media, but remember that what people are doing today is something we did long ago without social media. How will you be remembered in 15 or 30 seconds unless you have a hook step? The idea of a hook step comes from Bollywood,” she said.
Yet she believes the biggest difference lies in longevity. Viral trends, she argues, disappear almost as quickly as they emerge. “These reels are very short-lived because there’s always something new coming the next day,” Kapur said.
“Ask someone about the first viral reel and they may not remember. But ask them about Helen and they’ll instantly remember something. There is a bank in Bollywood that never fades away. Hold on to your roots. Hold on to your culture,” she added.
Season 5 of India’s Best Dancer premiered on June 6 on Sony TV and Sony LIV.
