‘Dhurandhar’ goes global: Bhangra performance steals the show at NBA game

At a pre-game show, ‘Bhangra Empire’ performed the film’s title track, and the video quickly went viral on social media

by Vaishnavi Deshpande
Published: Jan 9, 2026 4:30 PM | 2 min read

Ever since the release of the Bollywood spy thriller Dhurandhar, the film has broken several box-office records and is now finding resonance far from home. Its title track has reached an international audience in an unexpected setting: a Bhangra performance at an NBA game in the United States.

One recent event that brought attention to the film’s music was a performance by a Bhangra dance crew during a National Basketball Association (NBA) match between the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks in San Francisco, California. At a pre-game show, the group ‘Bhangra Empire’ performed to the film’s title track, and a video of the performance quickly circulated on social media, highlighting the international reach of the soundtrack, even within a sporting setting.

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A post shared by Bhangra Empire (@bhangraempire)

This moment in the NBA arena is just one of many examples of Dhurandhar’s music crossing borders. The film’s title track is itself a remake of an earlier Punjabi song, blending contemporary energy with traditional elements, which naturally lends itself to vibrant, dynamic performances such as this one in the United States.

Earlier, Nick Jonas went viral by dancing alongside his brothers to Dhurandhar’s ‘Shararat’ song ahead of their concert.

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A post shared by Nick Jonas (@nickjonas)

British YouTuber KSI (real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji), whose main YouTube channel alone boasts around 17 million subscribers and billions of total views, has over 13 million followers on Instagram. He recently posted a reel featuring the song ‘FA9LA’ by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi.

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A post shared by KSI (@ksi)

Together, these moments demonstrate that Dhurandhar’s influence now extends beyond box-office figures and domestic audiences. From a Punjabi dance performance at a major American sporting event to adoption by global creators on social media, the film’s soundtrack is resonating in cultural spaces outside India.