Talent: Ankur Rathee @ankurratheeofficial
Publication: Character @character.media
Photographer| Steve Limones @stevelimonesphotography
Stylist: AmbiKa Sanjana @styledbyambika
Stylist Assist: Sarah Gibson @sarahmgibsonn Kali Dennis @kalidenniss
Grooming: Nadia Hoecklin @nadiahoecklin
Photo Assistant: Nick Ahmet @nick_ahmet
Videographer: Jason Rivera @jasonriveraart
Production: @bellomediagroup x @alekandsteph x @maisonpriveepr_la
Publicist: Tori Kob & Eva Carlson at Narrative PR @narrativepr
Top: 525 America @525america, Pant: Pas Une Marque @pasunemarque, Coat: SAAF GARMENTS @saafgarments, Shoes: Thursday Boot Co. @thursdayboots, Rings: Pyrrha @pyrrhajewelry, AROCK @arock_official, Bracelets: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever, AROCK @arock_official, Necklace: Pyrrha @pyrrhajewelry
C: On Playing Within a Dance World: Your character exists in UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion scene. How did you prepare physically and mentally to authentically inhabit that world, and what surprised you most about the dance community itself?
A: I’ve been living and breathing Bollywood dance my whole life. I was made for this. I read the script and was like “put me in coach!” I wasn’t “surprised”, but rather felt like I was returning home. About a decade ago acting became my primary focus, but dance has always been my first love.
C: Fashion as Identity in Film: In a movie so rooted in South Asian culture, how do you think costume and styling choices communicate character and cultural identity – both on and off screen?
A: Sometimes it’s not until I’m in costume that the final puzzle piece of a character clicks. I walk and talk differently in distressed skinny jeans vs. wide leg Italian pants (please never put me in the former). A person’s styling says so much about them. Hence BOTB fashion had south asian influence, but also the breathing room to be a fusion much like the diaspora identity so many of us carry. We have the privilege and burden of choosing how American or how desi we are.
Outfit: IOEDLE @ioedle, Glasses: Cubitts @cubitts, Shoes: Jean-Baptiste Rautureau @jb_rautureau, Rings + Bracelet: AROCK @arock_official
C: The Desi Diaspora Through Movement: The film explores South Asian American experiences. How did you see fashion and dance working together to tell that specific cultural story throughout production?
A: There’s a lot of talk about “cultural authenticity” these days, but I sometimes think that overlooks the rapid pace of cultural evolution. Purists will criticize a dance style for straying too far from the foundational technique. Then one day it becomes its own dance form. What we call “fusion” will soon lose that label if it can stand the test of time. The south asian american diaspora is building its own culture, only momentarily tethered to the motherland. BOTB embodies that ever evolving cultural landscape through fashion and dance. Ideally, you will recognize some elements, but also discover something entirely new.
Outfit: IOEDLE @ioedle, Glasses: Cubitts @cubitts, Shoes: Jean-Baptiste Rautureau @jb_rautureau, Necklace: AROCK @arock_official
C: Personal Style Philosophy: Your character has a distinct presence in the film. Do you see parallels between how you approach personal style and how your character uses fashion to navigate the social dynamics of the dance team?
A: Ronak is a peacock. He’s the team captain and believes he must be heard and seen to be an effective leader. Hence the bold fashion choices. I also enjoy making a splash with my styling, but have outgrown those motivations. I’ve learned that sometimes the quietest person in the room is most powerful. So most days I prefer tasteful pieces that aren’t seeking attention.
Jacket: Pro Club @proclub_usa, Pants + Shirt: Ksubi @ksubi, Shoes: Jean-Baptiste Rautureau@ib_rautureau, Earrings + Ring + Necklace: AROCK @arock_official, Bracelets: Tateossian @tateossianlondon
C: Bollywood vs. Fusion: Having worked on this film, what’s your take on how Bollywood aesthetics influence contemporary fashion and movement in South Asian diaspora spaces?
A: Bollywood is often categorized as escapism cinema (I have my gripes with that) and it takes the creative liberty to do fantastical things. It’s music, dance, fashion, and set design all create mesmerizing spectacles meant to transport us far beyond our current reality. Undoubtedly, these elements influence those of us who want to change our circumstances. Indian cinema is the closest we South Asians get to seeing people that look like us glorified on screen and positioned as “cool” in pop culture.
C: Behind-the-Scenes Transformation: Walk us through a moment where costuming or styling changed how you approached a scene. Did the clothes ever dictate the performance?
A: Ronak’s dance attire was his military uniform. It meant I had to command my team and create order. My performance would naturally become more authoritative.
Shirt: Sun Child @sun.c.h.i.l.d, Pants: Klaos @klaos.us, Coat: SAAF GARMENTS @saafgarments, Shoes: Thursday Boot Co. @thursdayboots, Necklace: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever, Rings: AROCK @arock_official, Glasses: Big Horn @bighornrhino
C: Dance as Self-Expression: Even if your character isn’t the primary dancer, how did you view dance as a language of self-expression within the ensemble? Does that mirror how you see fashion functioning?
A: Dance is an expression of how you’re feeling now. The movement is happening organically in the moment. Fashion is often an expression of your aspiration. How do you want to feel? You make that choice in the morning and live with it the rest of the day. Or live up to it. Both serve their purpose.
C: Authenticity in Representation: The film centers authenticity in Desi storytelling. How did that commitment to authenticity influence the creative choices around how characters were styled and presented?
A: Some of us cling deeply to our roots, while others only “feel south asian” during festivals or around family. BOTB styling choices represented wherever a character was on that spectrum.
Outfit: AKI @aki.atelier.reserve Bracelet: Sterling Forever @sterlingforever, Necklace: AROCK @arock_official, Shoes: Jean-Baptiste Rautureau @jb_rautureau
C: Red Carpet vs. Set: You’ve navigated both the film’s premiere red carpet and the competitive dance world within it. How do those two worlds of “dressing for the moment” compare for you as an actor?
A: In a performance I dress to serve the character. On the red carpet I get to tell my story through fashion. In this chapter of my life, that means curating an outfit with some edge or unique flare, without being outlandish.
C: Legacy & Influence: As this film reaches audiences, what do you hope younger South Asian viewers take away about self-expression, confidence, and finding their place – whether that’s through dance, fashion, or both?
A: Growing up in a white suburban neighborhood, I thought being “desi” and being “cool” were mutually exclusive. I didn’t have any examples in American pop culture to tell me otherwise. I hope this film changes that narrative for any kids still negotiating their identity.
