Actress Rytasha Rathore talks about her Waack Girls journey, maker Sooni Taraporevala says, ‘I had no idea what waacking was’

Waacking is a vibrant street dance style born out of the underground gay clubs of 1970s Los Angeles, where it evolved from the energetic dance form known as punking. See video:

“I discovered waacking through Mekhola, and I was inspired to create a show around it because of her,” Soonie explained. “I had no idea what waacking was, but when I asked Mekhola about it, she told me about its history and her own connection to the dance form. It really sparked something in me.” Mekhola Bose, who plays the lead role of Ishani in the show, is the granddaughter of legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee. However, she didn’t feel pressured to live up to her grandfather’s legacy. “I didn’t let that affect me because I had Sooni guiding me throughout the process,” she said. “I have a very supportive family, and I don’t take external pressure from the world. I know my grandfather is watching me from up there and is super proud of me.”

Actress Rytasha Rathore plays the role of Lopa, the manager of the dance group. “Sooni guided me to build the character in a way she envisioned it,” Rathore said. “The dance form itself is vibrant and energetic, and we had a blast learning the choreography.” What sets Waack Girls apart is its focus on young adults, a demographic that is often overlooked by the Indian television. “There are very few shows that cater to this age group, and I think that’s what makes Waack Girls special,” says Soonie.”

The show’s choreography was designed by Yoonji, a champion waacker from South Korea. The team also collaborated with Shiamak Davar’s dance company to bring the choreography to life on camera. “We had a blast doing the dance steps in the show,” Mekhola Bose recalled. “All five of us had dance experience, so it was easy for us to come together as a group. We bonded over acting workshops and became like a crew.”

Soonie hopes that the show will help popularise waacking and give it the recognition it deserves. “I hope that just by popularising the term waack, people will become more aware of this dance form,” she said.