‘Best of the Best’: Release Date, Plot, Cast and Everything Else You Need to Know About Hasan Minhaj and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s New Netflix Dance Comedy

Netflix fans have a fresh reason to clear their September calendars, because the streamer’s buzzy new coming of age comedy is finally locking in its debut. ‘Best of the Best’ brings together ‘Never Have I Ever’ breakout Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and comedian Hasan Minhaj for a story that dives headfirst into the competitive, high energy world of collegiate Bollywood fusion dance.

The film has been quietly building momentum for over a year, moving from one studio to another before finally landing at Netflix, and now the wait for concrete details is officially over. From casting to plot to the first visuals fans have gotten a glimpse of, here is everything currently known about ‘Best of the Best’.

‘Best of the Best’ Release Date

Netflix has confirmed that ‘Best of the Best’ will premiere globally on the platform on September 18, 2026. The film was originally set up at Amazon MGM before the project transitioned over to Netflix, a shift that ultimately shaped its current release timeline.

Filming reportedly took place in New Jersey, with production having wrapped in the fall of 2025 ahead of a lengthy post production period. That extended runway between shooting and release has allowed the marketing rollout to build gradually, culminating in the recent confirmation of the September date alongside a batch of first look images.

The project has a long history behind it, having first been announced years earlier under a different title before eventually being retooled into the version now heading to Netflix. That evolution appears to have given the creative team time to fully develop the story’s blend of cultural specificity and campus comedy.

‘Best of the Best’ Cast

Leading the film is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who plays Maya, one half of the central childhood friendship at the heart of the story. Ramakrishnan, who broke out as Devi Vishwakumar on ‘Never Have I Ever’, has also appeared in ‘Freakier Friday’, ‘The Twits’, ‘Big Mouth’ and ‘The Boys’ since that series wrapped.

Opposite her is Priyanka Kedia, previously seen in ‘Everything to Me’, who plays Maya’s best friend Anjali. Hasan Minhaj rounds out the trio of leads as Professor Hamza Latif, stepping in front of the camera on a project he also co-wrote alongside his longtime ‘Patriot Act’ collaborator Prashanth Venkataramanujam.

The supporting cast is stacked with familiar faces, including Lilly Singh, Janina Gavankar, Ankur Rathee, Chaneil Kular, Sasha Bhasin, Nico Greetham, Saara Chaudry, Nihar Duvvuri and Shreya Navile. That mix of comedy veterans and rising talent points to a film leaning heavily into ensemble energy rather than resting entirely on its three marquee names.

Behind the camera, Lena Khan directs, marking a reunion with Ramakrishnan after the two worked together on multiple episodes of ‘Never Have I Ever’. Khan’s prior credits include ‘Flora and Ulysses’ and ‘The Tiger Hunter’, giving her experience with exactly the kind of coming of age tone ‘Best of the Best’ appears to be chasing.

‘Best of the Best’ Plot

The official synopsis describes a coming of age comedy centered on two best friends who attend a prestigious university and enter the cutthroat world of collegiate Bollywood dance. According to Netflix, the story is meant to celebrate the vibrancy of Bollywood fusion dance alongside the growing pains of young adulthood and the staying power of real friendship.

Specifically, Maya and Anjali join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood fusion dance team, only to find that the path toward the national championship is far messier and more intense than either of them expected. Along the way, the pair have to navigate freshman year adjustments, family expectations, and new relationships while chasing a title in a genuinely fierce competitive circuit.

Speaking about the project, Minhaj described it in personal terms, telling Tudum that “Best of the Best is a film about sisterhood, friendship, and self-acceptance.” That framing suggests the dance competition serves as more of a backdrop for the emotional core of the film rather than being the sole focus.

On many college campuses, dance teams have become spaces for South Asian community building and cultural connection, and that real world context appears to be woven directly into the film’s premise. The project seems intent on capturing that specific campus culture rather than treating the dance scenes as generic set pieces.

‘Best of the Best’ Trailer

As of now, Netflix has not released a full trailer for ‘Best of the Best’, though the streamer has shared first look images introducing the main cast in character. Those stills offer an early glimpse of Ramakrishnan and Kedia as Maya and Anjali, alongside Minhaj in his role as the professor character Hamza Latif.

Given that the September 18 release date has only just been locked in, a full trailer is expected to arrive closer to the premiere, following the typical rollout pattern Netflix uses for its original film slate. Until then, fans are largely relying on cast announcements and behind the scenes details to gauge the film’s tone.

The casting itself first came together as an exclusive reveal from Variety, which confirmed that Ramakrishnan and Kedia had joined Minhaj in the Netflix Bollywood comedy feature. That initial announcement set off early buzz among fans of ‘Never Have I Ever’, many of whom have been eager to see Ramakrishnan and Khan reunite on screen.

Fan Reactions and What Comes Next

Reaction to the casting news has been largely enthusiastic, with commenters online praising the ensemble and expressing excitement over Ramakrishnan being paired with a genuine love interest storyline in the film. The combination of Minhaj’s comedic sensibility and Khan’s coming of age directing style has fans expecting a project that balances humor with heart.

With the September 18 premiere now locked in, the coming weeks are likely to bring additional marketing materials, including the first full trailer, soundtrack details, and possibly more cast reveals as Netflix ramps up its promotional push. For now, ‘Best of the Best’ remains one of the more culturally distinctive comedies on the streamer’s fall calendar.

Are you more excited to see Maitreyi Ramakrishnan back in dance mode or to watch Hasan Minhaj step fully into an acting role this time around, and which cast member do you think steals the show once ‘Best of the Best’ finally hits Netflix on September 18?