Shantanu Maheshwari: Campus Beats gave me the feel of becoming a household name again | Exclusive

In an industry where constant innovation is the rule rather than the exception, Shantanu Maheshwari stands out as an artist who has maintained his identity while evolving. From the intense intensity of Dil Dosti Dance to the profound emotions of Campus Beats and the subtle strength he displayed in Gangubai Kathiawadi, Maheshwari has deftly transitioned between the stage and the film, continually allowing his talent to outshine his surroundings. The actor-dancer-host reveals, in an exclusive interview with OTTplay, the lesser-known aspects of his career spanning a decade, the life-altering potential of dance, and his own path from timid performer to proud storyteller.

Edited excerpts below...

You’ve had a decade-long journey in the entertainment industry. What’s something about your evolution as a performer that even your closest fans might not know?

Initially, I would struggle a lot with my confidence off the stage. While dancing and performing on stage was something I completely enjoyed, engaging in conversations with people was not my thing. I would like to say that dance, in fact, gave me my voice when words were too heavy. As and when I grew more in dance, acting and hosting, I did eventually find my space beyond the spotlight. I have grown from someone who was initially hesitant to speak about my work and more to now someone being that person who finds a purpose in sharing my journey. This evolution is something I am very proud of. 

Reflecting on your journey, what were some pivotal moments that shaped your career trajectory?

I feel that getting to meet and work with the right people and being a part of the right kind of projects really helped shape my career trajectory. Though I would always maintain that big credit goes to Palki Malhotra (who wrote Love Scandals & Doctors) for giving me that first break with Dil Dostii Dance. I have learnt a lot with her being on my side. Then came Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which brought me to the main GEC market in television and the glam world of reality shows. Then came my association with Desi Hoppers, where we, as a crew, performed internationally. I would like to say that Desi Hoppers truly taught me 'Junoon'. Khatron Ke Khiladi gave me an immense amount of mental strength. Then Gangubai Kathiawadi came along, and it changed the way I ever performed and felt emotions and feelings while performing, which was very different. How Sanjay sir got that out of me, I don't know but it truly changed me as a performer. Working on Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha with Neeraj Pandey Sir gave me a completely different perspective on being clear and specific in life with what you want. As a performer and in my personal life as well, I became a lot clearer about what I wanted. Coming to Campus Beats, it gave me the feel of becoming a household name again. So yes, all these projects helped me grow personally, which really helped me shape my career trajectory. 

From Dil Dosti Dance to Campus Beats and Gangubai Kathiawadi—how do you choose your projects today? Has your selection process changed over the years?

The core of the selection process remains the same, but at the same time, there are multiple things that go into the selection for a project. Though the story is the King is what I have been mainly taught, and I feel deeply about it. Then comes the character, also at times the setup of the project, the cast, of course, and what different things they bring to the table. While multiple important aspects are there, the process still remains the same. 

From Dil Dosti Dance to Campus Beats Season 5, how has your portrayal of dance evolved over the years?

My portrayal of dance over the years has matured. During our Dil Dosti Dance days, it was very raw, I would say; even the expressions and the choreography had a lot of rawness, which instantly helped us connect with the audience. That was my first show, so there was a different kind of enthusiasm to prove myself and, at the same time, learn a lot. With Campus Beats, everything is more nuanced and layered. The dance moves are impactful. Every moment has a meaning beyond the beat. So I think I have evolved from being just a dancer on screen to someone who uses dance as a narrative tool. I also feel I have become more invested in understanding the director's vision. The choreographer's vision and their intent as to how the character's journey is woven into their choreography. So for me, dance today is less about showing what I can do and more about making the audience feel something through what I do. 

As a member of Desi Hoppers and a World of Dance champion, how do you balance technical precision with storytelling in your performances?

It happens with experience. It's hard to pinpoint how I balance, but with experience, you understand that dance is just not about the steps; it's about the right and natural flow of movement. Yes, you have to be disruptive, but it shouldn't feel abrupt. I feel with experience you understand that. I feel I am overcritical when it comes to these things, but I don't mind that as it helps me rectify what is needed. How I balance it is hard for me to express in words, but with experience comes understanding. Dance eventually has a deeper meaning and purpose, and every movement has a meaning beyond the beat. 

You’ve explored various dance styles, including hip-hop and Bollywood. Which style resonates most with you, and why?

I love street dancing. I enjoy hip hop and Bollywood. As a child, I had started learning Bollywood. Back then, it was called the Western style of dancing. So it included most of the things that hip hop had. I was learning popping and bits of locking. I was learning house. Though I didn't know these terms back then. For me, when I say Bollywood, I see more of the South style of dancing; that, for me, is more Bollywood. I resonate a lot with Prabhudeva sir's dance style as well. I have grown up watching Javed Jaffrey (Dhamaal), Prabhudeva Sir (Ramaiya Vastavaiya) and Govinda Sir (Bhagam Bhaag), and here is a mixed blend of street style and Bollywood dancing in all their styles, so I enjoy both. 

How do you bring emotional storytelling into movement—especially when words aren’t involved?

For me, dance has always been more than steps. It's a language of emotion. When the words aren't involved, the body becomes your voice. With every moment, movement has to carry some sort of intention. I try to internalise the character's state of mind. Even while rehearsing, I ask a lot of questions about the character's state of mind. That emotional core guides everything. From the movement of my body to the pace of my breath or the tempo of the choreography, I try to focus a lot on the transitions. It's mainly about getting from one emotion to another with a flow. Sometimes, if you are standing still, a pause at the right moment can do wonders compared to some hardcore move. Obviously, music plays a big role, it leads me into the right space. When I'm not performing a story, I'm feeling it in a trance state, which is very hard to get into, but you always aim to get there. And when the emotion is real, the audience will sense it even without a single word spoken. That's the magic of dance or movement.

In Campus Beats Season 5, Ishaan faces complex emotional challenges. How did you prepare for these nuanced aspects of the character?

As I said, I ask a lot of questions, and I feel that helps me get a lot of clarity about which direction the character has to go in. It helps me clear a lot of doubts, and at times, of course, you don't know how the character is going to react to certain situations, so these questions about how the character's state of mind should help me choose where I am trying to take this character to. Playing Ishaan was one of the most difficult characters, I would say, but it's a very well-written character. So you kind of understand where this character is going and the emotional chord it's trying to hit. What's his baggage, what kind of a person he is, etc.? So yes, the brainstorming sessions, asking the right questions about the character's way forward, always give me good clarity. And with clarity, it's much easier for me or any artist in general to perform. 

Campus Beats has struck a chord with young viewers. What makes Ishaan a character you relate to—or challenge yourself with—as an actor?

Ishaan is a very layered character, and that's what makes him both relatable and challenging for me as an actor. On the surface level, he's very confident, cool and driven by dance. But as you get to know him, he's very vulnerable and has a lot of emotional baggage. There is a constant push and pull between passion and his personal life battle. What I relate to him is his deep connection with dance. His expression, his identity, is what I find very relatable to me. But what was challenging for me was to tap into his emotional complexities. Ishaan is someone who says a lot without speaking much, so conveying that inner turmoil with subtle expressions, silence and movement was pretty tough. Ishaan is very fearless; he stands his ground and makes mistakes. He loves fearlessly, and he grows through it all. So playing Ishaan has really pushed me to dig deeper emotionally and trust my instincts as a performer. I have grown a lot as a performer playing this character. 

You worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Gangubai Kathiawadi, a space so different from your dance roots. What did that experience teach you as an actor?

Coming from a dance background, I was used to expressions through movement, but in Gangubai Kathiawadi, I had to learn to express emotions in a more subtle way. My biggest learning from Gangubai Kathiawadi is patience. Sanjay sir takes his time to build every scene. He pays attention to every detail. To slow down, show emotions through my eyes, and not just through action, was all very important here. Being guided by Sir made me learn so much more as an actor. It was challenging but very rewarding. Working with Sir gave me more confidence to take up different kinds of roles. 

You once said that betrayals in the industry made you thick-skinned. What helped you push through those difficult times and keep your creative spirit alive?

Difficult times aren't easy, so what helped me was staying connected to why I started in the first place. That was for my love of dance and performing. I also have a very close but strong circle of friends and family who have believed in me and supported me throughout my career and during any setbacks. That helped me believe in myself. I also feel that whenever I step on the stage and in front of the camera, that fire to get into action just comes up. I have also learnt to take disappointment as a lesson and not a reason to stop. Whatever challenges I have faced have made me stronger, but it's the passion that has kept me going. 

You’re considered a Gen-Z heartthrob—how do you maintain authenticity in a space driven by trends and algorithms?

I honestly try not to let these labels define me. In a space where we are living today, attention spans are super short and algorithms change so quickly that the only thing that will last is authenticity. I have always believed in doing work that stands true to who I am; be it dance or acting or posting something digitally, I don't like to chase trends, but if something feels natural to me, I go all out with it. 

What’s something personal you’ve discovered about yourself through dance or performance?

I have discovered that I am a lot more emotionally connected than I used to believe. I have always been a bit reserved as a person, but when I dance or when I act, something just changes and I manage to express things that even I didn't know I would be able to. Dance and music have taught me how to be vulnerable without saying a word. It's shown me that strength isn't about control and perfection; it's about letting it go and sometimes just trusting the moment and being okay with showing raw emotions. It's been a journey of understanding myself better, not just as a performer but as a person. That is the true beauty of the art. It will reveal a new side of you if you are open to it.