A Scottish Indian doctor and author has made history by performing the first-ever Bollywood dance routine on one of the UK's most popular television dance shows. Dr. Punam Krishan , who proudly identifies as a 'Glajabi' (a Glasgow-born Punjabi), performed to the iconic song ' Bole Chudiyan ' from the 2001 Bollywood hit 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' on ' Strictly Come Dancing '—marking the first Indian film sequence in the show’s 20-year run.
The general practitioner (GP), who is in her 40s, became emotional while reflecting on her family's journey from Punjab to Scotland with little to their name. "It meant everything," Krishan said, tearing up after her highly praised performance. "I felt like I was connecting with my younger self, the four-year-old me who would have loved to see something like this growing up.
You can't be what you can't see." View this post on Instagram A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) Krishan spoke about her humble upbringing, noting, "We didn’t have much, but we made it." She dedicated her dance to her grandfather, who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In behind-the-scenes clips leading up to the performance, Krishan revealed that she chose Bollywood for the "Couple’s Choice" category to highlight her Indian heritage on a mainstream platform. "I am so proud to be a Scottish Indian woman. With this Couple’s Choice dance, I wanted to bring my culture and heritage to the forefront," she explained.
"Growing up, I never saw Indian g.