Jaaved Jaaferi: What took so long? Nobody asked me

After over a decade away from the judge’s chair, Jaaved Jaaferi is returning to familiar territory — dance reality television. The actor-dancer, who became synonymous with Boogie Woogie, is now stepping into a new chapter with India’s Best Dancer. In a candid conversation, he reflects on the long gap and the evolution of dance in India.
For Jaaved, the 12-year hiatus from judging wasn’t exactly by choice. He says, “What took so long is that nobody asked me. But I did make a guest appearance on a few dance shows over these past few years, so in a way I stayed connected,” he says.

Comparing past talent with today’s, he adds, “In India’s Best Dancer, I look forward to seeing the envelope being pushed. It’s always exciting to see the human body push itself, whether in sport or performing art.”

On the oft-debated emotional storytelling in reality TV, Jaaved takes a pragmatic view. “At the end of the day, it’s about getting audience attention. People like real-life stories,” he says, drawing parallels with quiz shows where emotional narratives also resonate. “There are quiz shows on TV where the show is about IQ, but they do show the backstory of the person as well, which emotionally connects with audiences. So it is the same with dance shows. It’s the underdogs getting that platform. Somewhere, people like those stories. Even though none of this was ever done earlier on Boogie Woogie, every show has its own format,” he shares.