Maitreyi Ramakrishnan stars as Maya, a UCLA freshman competing in Bollywood dance competitions, in Best of the Best, a coming-of-age comedy created by Patriot Act host Hasan Minhaj and writing partner Prashanth Venkataramanujam. The film premieres on Netflix on September 18.
Ramakrishnan auditioned for the role despite Minhaj’s confidence she was the right fit. “I for real felt, we would be so lucky to have Maitreyi,” Minhaj said in an interview. “She was the person that I felt had the two things that I think Maya needed. Everybody knows that Maitreyi naturally is comedically brilliant.” He also praised her emotional depth, noting her work in later seasons of Never Have I Ever demonstrated the pathos required for the film.
The film reunites Ramakrishnan with Lena Khan, a director from Never Have I Ever, and co-choreographer Joya Kazi, who appeared in the show’s first season. Kazi participated in a Bollywood-style routine that blended Kathak, India’s traditional dance form, with choreography created for the screen.
Minhaj and Venkataramanujam conceived Best of the Best during lockdown as their answer to the Step Up franchise. The story follows Maya and her childhood best friend Anjali, played by Indian-American actor Priyanka Kedia, as they compete on their school’s Bollywood dance team while navigating campus life and academics. Their relationship is tested as they jockey for parts in the ensemble. The narrative draws from Minhaj and Venkataramanujam’s own college experiences.
Ramakrishnan acknowledged her lack of formal dance training, having studied Bharatnatyam, a 3,000-year-old traditional dance from Tamil Nadu, for a year as a child before abandoning the discipline. She undertook intensive training to convincingly portray a character who has danced throughout her life. During weekly script sessions, Ramakrishnan worked with Khan, Minhaj, and Venkataramanujam to shape her character and contribute to the film’s tone and direction.
For some fans disappointed by Never Have I Ever’s conclusion in 2023 after four seasons, Best of the Best may offer a continuation of sorts, reuniting Ramakrishnan with the creative team and allowing audiences to see her transition from television’s snappier pacing to the emotional stakes of feature filmmaking.
Key facts
- Best of the Best premieres on Netflix on September 18
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays Maya, a UCLA freshman competing in Bollywood dance
- The film was created by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam during lockdown
- Director Lena Khan and choreographer Joya Kazi from Never Have I Ever reunite with Ramakrishnan
- The story draws from Minhaj and Venkataramanujam’s own college experiences
- Ramakrishnan auditioned for the role despite Minhaj’s confidence in her casting