Strictly Come Dancing fans were left ‘in pieces’ as Dr Punam Krishan and pro dancer Gorka Márquez performed a couple’s choice routine during Saturday night’s live show. The routine was a first-ever for the BBC dance competition and had a special meaning for TV doctor Punam, who dedicated the dance to her late grandfather. As part of Movies Week, the couple performed a Bollywood dance to the song Bole Chudiyan from the 2001 hit film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which is one of the biggest-grossing Indian films of all time. READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans fume as ‘stunning’ performance ‘ruined’ by one thing Introducing the dance, presenter Tess Daly confirmed it was the first time ever that a Bollywood routine had been performed on the show as a couple’s choice dance. Punam explained that she wanted to do a Bollywood dance to “bring my culture and my heritage to the forefront”. Speaking during rehearsals, she said: “I never saw Indian girls dancing on mainstream television so to be doing now an Indian dance on a platform like Strictly is huge.” The This Morning Live star lost her grandad, who lived in India, during the Covid pandemic and said “he’ll be watching and he’ll be really proud, as will my mum”. She added: “We didn’t grow up with much, we didn’t have a lot, but we got there.” Judge Motsi Mabuse teared up as she gave her comments to the couple following the high-energy routine. “That really moved me,” she said. “I know so many people are watching you right now and feel so proud to see this on Strictly Come Dancing.” Craig Revel-Horwood called the performance “absolutely incredible”, while Anton Du Beke claimed it was their “best dance by far”. Asked by host Claudia Winkleman what it meant to her to perform a Bollywood routine, Punam said as she struggled to hold back tears: “It meant everything.” She added: “I feel like I just went to four-year-old me that would have loved to see something like this when I was growing up, and I guess you just can’t be what you can’t see.” The judges gave Punam and Gorka a total of 33 points, which included a nine from Motsi and upped their previous week’s score by 15 points. Emotional Strictly viewers took to X to praise the pair’s performance, with many saying how ‘refreshing’ it was to see a new genre on the show. One fan wrote: “I give Dr Punam and Gorka a… 10! Now THAT is what I call a moment. This was just a complete blockbuster. You absolutely smashed this! Thank you for sharing your heritage. Thank you for bringing us this magic. Your grandad was with you there.” Another commented: “I don’t think people realise how big of a deal the movie ‘Khabi Kushi Khabi Ghum’ is within the south Asian community. Punam Krishan’s Couple’s Choice to ‘Bole Chudiyan’ brought her to life, wearing her culture on her sleeve like that on prime time tv is everything.” A third said the dance “made this episode worth watching”, while another said they have never “seen someone have as much fun on that dance floor as Punam tonight”. The dance left plenty of viewers at home emotional, with one writing: “Oh I am in pieces at Punam, that was absolutely incredible, such a joyous dance, what a moment for her and for so many.” Another commented: “Omg I LOVE LOVE LOVED that. It actually made me quite emotional watching Punam & Gorka. GORGEOUS.” Others said they were thrilled to see South Asian heritage take centre stage, hailing Punam as an inspiration. “What Punam has just done is huge,” one fan wrote. “So emotional seeing authentic, unapologetic Punjabi and Indian culture on the main stage that is BBC Strictly — what a superstar!! You could see how much that meant to her! So proud!!” Another said: “As a half-Indian woman who has watched Indian culture get misrepresented or completely ignored on TV, watching Punam and Gorka dance to Bole Chudiyan filled me with so much joy.” A third wrote: “Dr Punam just did something that’s never been done on Strictly before. This will go down in Strictly history, I can guarantee there are so many little kids out there who truly saw themselves in her, she should be SO proud of herself.” “That was amazing,” another fan gushed. “I’m so so thrilled they let her do Bollywood for her couple’s choice, it clearly means so much to her and it’s SO important to finally see it on Strictly.” Another viewer said: “That was very emotional, felt every emotion Dr Punam Krishan was going through. We all felt it, as little girls dancing to Bollywood at home but never showing it. Representation is huge and Punam delivered on a huge responsibility.” Strictly fans are keen to see more new genres showcased during the series. One wrote: “That was so good, so fresh and original for the show. More of that sort of thing!” Another commented: “Brilliant couple’s choice! So refreshing not to see street, but a true choice from one of the dancer’s culture! Fabulous work, Punam and Gorka!” Another shared: “What a treat watching a new genre of dance, Punam danced her [heart] out, and she enjoyed her best dance, and I loved, more please.”
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