‘Best of the Best’ on Netflix, Everything Known About Release Date, Cast, and Story

‘Best of the Best’ is heading to Netflix this fall, bringing a coming of age comedy built around the competitive world of collegiate Bollywood fusion dance. The film pairs ‘Never Have I Ever’ star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan with comedian and filmmaker Hasan Minhaj, and it marks Ramakrishnan’s first live action Netflix project since her breakout series wrapped.

The project has been years in the making, having originally been set up elsewhere before landing at Netflix, and it is now close enough to premiere that a full picture of its story, cast, and creative team has come into focus.

Best of the Best Release Date

Netflix has confirmed that ‘Best of the Best’ will premiere globally on September 18, 2026, with the studio confirming the film would be released globally on its platform on that date. The film’s official Netflix page lists it simply as a 2026 title rated PG-13 and categorized as a comedy, describing it as following two childhood besties who join their college’s competitive Bollywood dance team, only for the road to nationals to prove more raucous and cutthroat than they imagined.

The project has a longer history than its release date suggests. Production coverage from mid-2025 indicated the film began shooting in New Jersey, with a start date of July 28, 2025 and an expected wrap around September 11, 2025. At that stage, outlets were only projecting a second half of 2026 arrival, so the September date confirms that early estimate.

Notably, ‘Best of the Best’ did not start life as a Netflix project. Earlier reporting noted the film was previously set up at Amazon MGM before transitioning to Netflix, and separate coverage traced the concept back even further, noting it was first announced years ago under a different title before evolving into its current form.

Best of the Best Cast Details

The film is led by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia, who play the two central best friends at the heart of the story. According to Netflix’s own Tudum coverage, the film follows two childhood best friends, Maya, played by Ramakrishnan, and Anjali, played by Kedia, who join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood fusion dance team, only to discover that the road to winning the US championship is far more raucous and cutthroat than they ever imagined.

Hasan Minhaj also appears on screen in addition to his writing and producing roles. He portrays Hamza Latif, a professor connected to the dance team’s world, adding a familiar face for anyone who followed his stand up specials or his Netflix series ‘Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.’

The wider ensemble rounds out the collegiate dance team and surrounding cast. Netflix’s official title page lists the cast as Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Ankur Rathee, Janina Gavankar, Chaneil Kular, Becky Alex, Shreya Navile, Hasan Minhaj, Lilly Singh, and Nihar Duvvuri. Additional reporting has also named further supporting players joining the ensemble, including Nico Greetham, Amryn Khurana, Tanishq Joshi, Saara Chaudry, and Sasha Bhasin.

Ramakrishnan’s casting carries some weight given her history with Netflix. She had her big break in the Netflix series ‘Never Have I Ever,’ which ended in 2023, and has since returned to Netflix only as a voice actor in the animated film ‘The Twits,’ making ‘Best of the Best’ her first on screen Netflix project since the show ended.

Best of the Best Plot and Trailer Status

The synopsis Netflix has circulated frames the story around friendship tested by competition. One early description called it a coming of age comedy about two best friends who attend a prestigious university and enter the cutthroat world of collegiate Bollywood dance, where they face fierce competition and personal challenges, celebrating the vibrancy of Bollywood fusion dance, the growing pains of young adulthood, and the lasting power of true friendship.

Hasan Minhaj has also spoken about the themes driving the project. Discussing the film ahead of release, Minhaj described it as a story about sisterhood, friendship, and self acceptance, according to Netflix’s own Tudum coverage of the film.

As for a trailer, Netflix’s official ‘Best of the Best’ page currently invites viewers to watch trailers and learn more, though a full length trailer had not been widely circulated as of the film’s first look reveal. That first look arrived through a set of newly released images, with Netflix captioning the reveal by inviting audiences to meet the dance crew of ‘Best of the Best,’ a new comedy film set in the world of competitive collegiate Bollywood style dance.

Best of the Best Director and Behind the Scenes Team

The film comes from director Lena Khan, whose prior credits include family and coming of age fare. Khan is previously known for directing 2016’s ‘The Tiger Hunter’ and the 2021 Disney Plus movie ‘Flora and Ulysses’, giving her direct experience with the kind of youthful, heartfelt storytelling ‘Best of the Best’ is aiming for.

On the writing side, the screenplay comes from Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, who also share producing duties. Behind them sits a larger production apparatus, with Netflix’s head of film Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich producing through their company Rideback, Ellen H. Schwartz serving as executive producer, and Sheroum Kim and Sebastian Hernandez overseeing the project for Netflix, alongside Minhaj’s own production company 186K Films.

Casting for the film was handled by Bernie Telsey and Kristian Charbonier, rounding out a creative team that spans studio executives, independent producers, and the film’s own stars in writing and producing capacities.

With a confirmed September premiere, a cast anchored by two rising Netflix favorites, and a director well versed in coming of age storytelling, ‘Best of the Best’ looks positioned to become one of the platform’s notable comedy releases this fall. What do you make of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Hasan Minhaj teaming up for this Bollywood dance competition story, and are you rooting for Maya and Anjali’s friendship to survive the championship stakes?