Best Of The Best OTT Release: Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has returned to Netflix as the lead of the vibrant college dance comedy Best of the Best. Directed by Lena Khan, the high-energy film blends coming-of-age drama with competitive Bollywood-fusion dance.
The Plot: What Is 'Best Of The Best' About?
Childhood best friends Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia) arrive as freshmen at UCLA determined to put a humiliating high school talent show performance behind them.
Despite wanting to step away from dance, Maya gets drawn into UCLA's cutthroat, raucous competitive Bollywood-fusion dance circuit. After joining Team Agni, Maya clashes with the group's traditionalist president Ronak (Ankur Rathee) over routine choreography, pushing for modern, story-driven concepts over standard routines.
As the team fights for a spot at the U.S. National Championship against rivals USC, Maya and Anjali must navigate growing personal friction, romance, and the pressures of young adulthood.
Category | Details |
Director | Lena Khan |
Writers | Hasan Minhaj & Prashanth Venkataramanujam |
Cast | Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Hasan Minhaj, Ankur Rathee, Chaneil Kular, Nico Greetham, Lilly Singh, Janina Gavankar |
Genre | Coming-of-Age, Comedy, Musical Dramedy |
Release Date | Friday, 18 September 2026 |
Streaming Platform | Netflix (Global) |
Best Of The Best Reviews
Critics have praised Best of the Best as a joyful, energetic crossover reminiscent of "Booksmart meets Bring It On" or "Step Up 2: The Streets".
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Reviewers consistently highlight the magnetic lead chemistry between Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, as well as the witty screenplay co-written by Hasan Minhaj. While some critics note that the sports-style competition plot follows a familiar trajectory, the film earns praise for its vibrant choreography, fresh cultural specificity, and heartfelt portrayal of South Asian-American female friendship.
FAQs
Q1: Is Best of the Best currently streaming on Netflix?
A: Yes, Best of the Best released globally on Netflix on Friday, 18 September 2026.
Q2: Is Best of the Best connected to Never Have I Ever?
A: No, Best of the Best is a completely standalone feature film, though it stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in her first live-action Netflix lead role since Never Have I Ever.