Vaibhavi Merchant Dances Her Way to National Glory with ‘Dhindhora Baje Re’

Vaibhavi Merchant has added yet another feather to her illustrious cap by winning Best Choreography at the 71st National Film Awards for the electrifying song Dhindhora Baje Re from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. This momentous win celebrates not just a song, but the return of grand, emotive, storytelling dance to the cinematic mainstream—something Merchant has long championed with flair.

The song itself is a visual explosion—vibrant, energetic, and emotionally loaded. It's not just about the steps, but how those steps carry the story forward. Merchant weaves together tradition and drama, blending classical influences with a cinematic intensity that makes Dhindhora Baje Re impossible to look away from. It’s dance as dialogue, and nobody does it quite like her.

What makes this award even more special is the legacy behind it. Vaibhavi Merchant is the granddaughter of legendary choreographer B. Hiralal Merchant, and her win feels like a poetic full circle—honoring not just her own brilliance but the deep-rooted family tradition of treating choreography as an art form, not just a performance. With this, she's once again proven that good choreography can shape how stories are told and remembered.

The award ceremony held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, was a glittering affair, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honors. Alongside Merchant’s big win, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani also clinched the Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment—a nod to its crowd-pleasing charm and narrative richness, showing that commercial cinema can still bring home the gold.

In a time when sleek minimalism often rules the screen, Vaibhavi Merchant’s work is a powerful reminder that bold, expressive choreography has a place in modern storytelling. Her win isn’t just a personal achievement—it’s a victory for every frame where dance becomes more than movement. It becomes meaning.