The question posed in the show’s title may have been more of the rhetorical nature, but that did not stop one couple from answering that question with an emphatic “Yes.”

Donning colorful outfits, Joshua and Katee came onto the stage for their big number on So You Think You Can Dance. With bright lights, large cameras, and millions of curious eyes glaring upon them, the dancing duo waited for their cue.

Moments later, Dhoom Tana blared from the speakers. Stealing a page from Bollywood, Joshua and Katee dazzled the audience, judges, and network executives with their Indian-themed dance moves.

Just as the movie (Om Shanti Om) that featured Dhoom Tana on its soundtrack took Bollywood by storm last year, Joshua and Katee’s spectacular performance created a buzz that lasted for weeks on entertainment blogs, gossip magazines, and Hollywood trade magazines.

Joshua and Katee may have surprised audiences with their use of Bollywood choreography, but Nakul Dev Mahajan knew all along the dance would work.

“Bollywood now has a mainstream appeal, unlike the 1980s,” he humbly told Buzzine. “The diversity of Bollywood dancing is really bringing in something that people can relate to, regardless of background. The music itself tells a story and it’s ever-changing.”

Mahajan, a Southern California native with Indian roots, was the mastermind behind Joshua and Katee’s Bollywood dance. For him, choreographing the dance was truly a privilege, as it may have opened the door for more crossover projects between Hollywood and Bollywood.

“For them to choose Bollywood was truly a blessing,” the 32-year-old founder of NDM Dance Production said. “It introduced Bollywood to mainstream America. It’s not everyday that people get to see cultural dancing in a positive way.”

Indeed, Mahajan played a significant role presenting Bollywood in the most positive light, as it has been a part of his life since childhood.

Active in the local South Asian community for more than 17 years, Mahajan was greatly influenced by some of Bollywood’s greatest works since he was a young boy.

His parents, who emigrated from the Indian state of Punjab, acquainted him with Bollywood’s feature films, traditionally filled with colorful song and dance. Mesmerized by each song’s elaborate choreography, stunning color, and profound storyline, Mahajan immediately took a liking to everything Bollywood.

He recalls admiring India’s top performers, such as legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

“I was exposed to it at an early age,” he said. “My inspiration came from watching Bollywood movies and the likes of Amitabh Bachchan as a child. For me, this was destiny.”

However, while captivated by the valor of Bollywood, Nakul’s older sister helped infuse some Western culture.

“My sister, four years my elder, was the opposite [of me],” he said. “She was the first to capitalize on the dance aspect. She was a big fan of Western artists like Madonna.”

Thanks to his sister’s interest in American music, Mahajan vividly recalled stumbling upon a Paula Abdul video one day, and appreciating her choreographed dance moves.

“In terms of American pop icons, Paula Abdul is my biggest influence,” he said.

Eventually, Mahajan would find a medium between his love of Bollywood’s color and his appreciation of Paula Abdul’s choreography.

That medium was found in college, where the would-be choreographer took the first steps in realizing that destiny. Graduating from University of California, Riverside with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Dance, Mahajan embarked upon his journey to fulfill his passion.

Since his college days, Mahajan made dance his life’s work. He maintained an interest in classical Indian dances, such as Kathak and BharatNatyam, while also taking an interest in Latin Ballroom dance.

Along the way, Mahajan worked at a child care center for seven years, running camps, arts & crafts, and helping with homework.

After spending several years in Hollywood and the Indian community establishing himself as a top-notch choreographer, Mahajan turned his passion into a career.

In addition to choreographing performances for shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, he also opened up five Bollywood dance studios throughout Southern California, including the headquarter studio in the heart of Little India in Artesia, California.

“Location is everything, especially when you run a dance school,” Mahajan said of opening his first-ever Bollywood dance studio in Artesia’s Little India. “With the dynamic of a Bollywood dance school, being in Little India was the key to our success.”

Yet location was not the only criteria in opening the dance studio in Artesia. For Mahajan, it was just as important to place the studio in the proverbial nerve-center of the community that gave him a dream to pursue.

“We are a family-owned company based in the heart of Little India, in a community that held me up when I didn’t have anything,” he proudly yet humbly stated. But still, Mahajan sees his opening of several dance studios as a responsibility.

“Artists have a responsibility of sharing their art,” he said. “I love being a teacher, getting in the classroom, and showing them a step… I love kids and love working with them. The Hollywood angle is nice, but at the end of it, nothing makes me feel better than when a child goes home and tells their parents they want to come back.”

Since, he has opened several other locations in places such as Northridge, Irvine, Bel-Air and Torrance, California.

In terms of his next project, Mahajan is focusing on his production of The One Man Bollywood Show, which should open in January at the Wadsworth Theater in West Los Angeles.

“The idea of the show is a journey of a boy whose dream comes true,” he said. The show will focus on the social pressure of what it is to be South Asian and going against the stereotypes and community pressures.”

Mahajan pointed out that his family was very supportive of his interest in dance

“When art meets your passion, you can’t go wrong with it.”

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