Maharashtra-based Tanay Malhara, 14, on Sunday night emerged as the winner of season two of the dance reality TV show Dance+.
Choreographer-director Remo D’Souza was the super judge of the Star Plus show, and Shakti Mohan, Dharmesh Yelande and Punit J. Pathak were captains.
Along with the trophy, Malhara walked away with Rs2.5 million (Dh137,292) and a car. He competed against Wild Rippers crew, Piyush Bhagat and Sushant Khatri.
Malhara said the win was yet to sink in. “Winning this show was a very big surprise. I didn’t know so many people out there have been supporting me. Most importantly, Dharmesh sir has supported me throughout and I dedicate my win to him,” Malhara said in a statement.
He also credited Shakti and Punit for their “constant motivation”.
“The shining moment was when they all said, ‘Being a 14-year old boy, you deserve to be the next dance icon of the nation’,” Malhara added.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor attended the show’s finale. Kapoor was promoting his forthcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Rio Olympics bronze medal-winning wrestler Sakshi Malik was also part of the show to motivate the contestants.
Remo said Malhara’s win will “inspire the nation that age and size don’t matter if you are born to dance and have sheer will to continue that”.
