Shantanu Maheshwari to Dharmesh Yelande: TV celebs who started out as professional dancers and made it big on the industry

There are several popular television stars who started their career as a dancer and eventually made it big in the industry. Here is a list of celebs who have now become household names

Shantanu debuted with the show ‘Dil Dosti Dance’ where he played the role of Swayam Shekhawat and gained a large fan base. He participated in ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi season 8’ and emerged as the winner. Shantanu and his dance crew, 'Desi Hoppers', emerged as the winners in the World of Dance 2015 Championship in Los Angeles. Shantanu also participated in dance reality shows, ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 9’ and ‘Nach Baliye season 9’. He made his Bollywood debut this year with Alia Bhatt in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’.

Salman Yusuff Khan participated and became the first winner of ‘Dance India Dance season 1’. He worked as a choreographer for several seasons in ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ and later participated in ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 9’ as a guest and ended up winning the season. He made his debut as an actor in a dance-based film ‘ABCD: Anybody Can Dance’ by Remo D'Souza. Salman has appeared as a judge in many reality shows including ‘Dance Plus’ and ‘High Fever.. Dance Ka Naya Tevar’ in recent years.

(Photo:Instagram)

Avneet Kaur began her career with the dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance Li'l Masters’. Little Avneet then participated in ‘Dance Ke Superstars’ and has won a lot of hearts with her innocent smile. She made her acting debut in ‘Meri Maa’ where she played Jhilmil. Later, Kaur played Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin - Naam Toh Suna Hoga’. Reportedly, Aveet will be making her Bollywood debut in Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Tiku Weds Sheru’, opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui this year.

(Photo:Instagram)

Faisal Khan auditioned in the dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance Li'l Masters season 2’, where he came out as the winner. He later went on to win ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 8’. Faisal made his acting debut in the historical drama series ‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap’, where he played the younger version of Maharana Pratap. He has appeared in several other television shows. Lately, he is playing the role of lord Garuda in ‘Dharm Yoddha Garud’.

(Photo:Instagram)

Kunwar Amar began his career as a contestant on Indian dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance season 2’, where he ended as one of the finalists. He later went on to play the role of Reyansh Singhania in the popular youth show ‘Dil Dosti Dance’ where he gained a large fan following. Kunwar later participated in 'Nach Baliye season 5’ and ‘Dare 2 Dance’. He has acted in several TV shows since then.

(Photo:Instagram)

Mohena Singh made her first television appearance in ‘Dance India Dance season 3’. She started her acting career in 'Dil Dostii Dance' where she played the role of Sara. Mohena became a household name for playing the role of Keerti Goenka Singhania in ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’. Born as a princess, Mohena recently welcomed her first child with her husband.

(Photo:Instagram)

Dharmesh Yelande became an internet sensation when he auditioned for ‘Dance India Dance season 2’. Ever since his audition clip went viral, he has been known as ‘D-sir’ among his fans. Although he didn’t win the competition, he had established himself as an accomplished dancer. He went on to work as a choreographer in several projects. Later, he made his acting debut in Remo D'Souza’s film ‘ABCD: Anybody Can Dance’. He has been a judge in dance reality shows like ‘Dance Plus’ and ‘Dance Deewane’

(Photo:Instagram)