At a recent NBA game in San Francisco, something surprising and celebratory took place. At halftime of a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks, they could hear Indian music booming throughout the arena. The title song from the hit Bollywood film Dhurandhar played loudly as a small group of dancers performed a high-octane Bhangra routine at that show. It was one that not only had entertainment value but involved an enthusiastic display to the world and a display of Indian culture in high fashion.
A Culture Shock at the NBA:
The halftime show at the time also highlighted the global dance group Bhangra Empire, one of the best known members in the country, which specializes and celebrates Punjabi traditional dance, as well as modern dance. They were dressed in colorful Punjabi outfits and dancing like a crowd to the thumping music of the spy-thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, the lead character in the action-packed spy film. The music was pulsating with enthusiasm, movement and happiness, and a large crowd at the Chase Center began to cheer along. Many of those attending recorded the performance of which within hours a video of the moment has gone viral online. Social media exploded with positive commentary, with everyone calling it “a proud moment” and “a global celebration of Indian culture.” The tweet that captured the moment, @MeghUpdates, attracted thousands of likes and views.
WoW!! Dhurandhar background music played at halftime at NBA pic.twitter.com/TxGYdpuO7N
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) January 9, 2026
Why This Moment Matters:
This was not mere dancing, it was a crossing point culturally. The NBA is one of the world's major sports platforms, and its Indian music and dance playing such a prominent concert can hardly be exaggerated--it's testimony to how far our Indian culture has come: worldwide love of Indian movies, music, and arts is rising every minute. The song Dhurandhar, by Sashwat Sachdev, is already a hit song in India. But its appearance in an NBA game illustrates that its popularity transcends borders. The film itself is set to go on to record-breaking box office, and Dhurandhar 2 also being released in March 2026, Dhurandhar 2 is hitting even broader audiences internationally.
The Power of Bhangra Empire:
Bhangra Empire, which is behind the performance, has an impressive track record of displaying Indian dance at world venues. They’ve done big performance events before, including the White House. Their choreography combines the Bhangra and modern moves to make it enjoyable for all kinds of people! For them, performing to Dhurandhar was clever. That song had strong beats and cinematic impact on it that was a perfect match with the energy of the NBA halftime show. It wasn’t merely a show, but, more profoundly, a statement: Indian music belongs on the global stage.
Reactions from Around the World:
There were cheers from both Indians and U.S. Comments in social media praised the dancers, the music, and the moment itself. “The Dhurandhar fever is uniting everyone!” wrote one of the users. “What a banger, love the energy!,” another said. These reactions illustrate how music and dance can combine people, regardless of who they come from. Those who knew nothing about Indian culture were, in fact, impressed. The costumes were so colorful, and the pace of the choreography and the joy in the performance was joyous, it was one highlight of the game.
A Sign of Things to Come:
This halftime spectacle may be the beginning of several more cultural moments in global sports. Indian cinema is expanding internationally, and we may have to continue with songs, dances, traditions added or at least we may see them integrated into venues like NBA, NFL or the Olympics. For now the Dhurandhar halftime presentation is a moment of pride for Indian fans everywhere. It demonstrates how music and dance are fluid across borders and interconnect cultures, even lightening the inside of a stadium even in the middle of a basketball game.
