Dubai: Meet the physics grad behind Oxford’s viral Bollywood moment

When Druv Punjabi first stepped onto the hallowed grounds of Oxford University to pursue a master's in mathematical and theoretical physics, his mind was set on equations, research papers, and the mysteries of the universe. But just a year later, the Dubai-based Indian expat found himself at the centre of a social media moment — choreographing and starring in a Bollywood dance video that would light up the Internet, capturing imaginations across the globe.

Set to the catchy beats of Indian pop song ‘Desi Boyz’, the video features Druv and his friends dancing with full Bollywood flair across iconic Oxford backdrops — Radcliffe Camera, cobbled quads, Gothic archways — infusing the iconic academic halls with colour, rhythm and unapologetic joy.

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“I wanted to blend Bollywood’s energy with Oxford’s iconic and historic backdrop,” says Druv, speaking from Dubai, where he now lives with his family. “I believed it would show the fusion of two vibrant cultures, and it was a way for us to express our creative side and the form of dance that we all enjoyed so much.”

At 24, Druv has already lived a life marked by bold contrasts and unexpected twists. Born and raised between continents, he completed his undergraduate studies in mathematics and physics at UC Berkeley before moving to Dubai in 2022. The following year, he joined the University of Oxford for a one-year master’s programme in physics — one of the most rigorous courses at one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

But amidst the world of string theory and quantum mechanics, a different kind of rhythm was also gaining momentum.

“I’ve been making dance videos since 2022,” says Druv. “During my time at Oxford, I formed a Bollywood dance group with three other close friends. I always wanted to make a dance video at Oxford, and had the song ‘Desi Boyz’ in mind for a while.”

Much to Druv and his friends' delight, the University of Oxford’s official social media team didn’t just like the video, they asked to feature it on their own platforms. “We hoped the video would have a strong reach, but were very pleasantly surprised when Oxford University themselves reached out to us asking if they could share it on World Music Day,” Druv recalls. “The response after the university shared it simply blew us away.”

The video now has hundreds of thousands of views across platforms and is being celebrated as a unique cultural moment, shared by Indian diaspora pages, cheered on by Bollywood fans, and appreciated by students and faculty alike.

“From making a soundtrack and choreographing our steps to filming and editing, there was a great sense of excitement and anticipation, especially between us dancers,” he says. “We knew we were creating something special that had not been done before. After the video went live, several of Oxford’s pages and channels shared it, and we were really happy with how positively our friends and the broader community reacted to it.”

Druv is also quick to point out that this is not his first brush with creating dance content. One of his earliest videos — a remake of the song ‘All Is Well’ from 3 Idiots — even caught the attention of director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

“We filmed on weekends and even brought in one of Berkeley’s most renowned professors for a part of it,” Druv adds. “The video, when finally released, was completely unexpected for everyone and even garnered the personal praise of Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra themselves.”

Since then, dance has become more than a hobby for him. It’s become a form of expression, a creative counterweight to the contrasting intensity of his chosen path: physics. “Making dance videos has been my way of balancing my creative side with my technical side,” he says. “I deeply love and wish to continue them both in the future.”

Now back in Dubai, Druv is turning his attention to another lifelong dream: a career in aerospace. “My ultimate dream has always been to be an astronaut,” he says. “That’s what I’m focusing on now here in Dubai.” 

But he’s not hanging up his dance shoes just yet.

“I definitely want to continue performing and creating dance videos on my Instagram and YouTube pages,” he adds. “This video at Oxford was just one of many ideas that I have, and I’ll be pursuing the others very soon.”

• Dubai

Somya Mehta

somya@khaleejtimes.com

Somya Mehta is a Senior Features Writer at Khaleej Times, who contributes extensively to the UAE's arts, culture, and lifestyle scene. When not engrossed in writing, you'll find her on the hunt for the next best solo travel destination or indulging in podcast binges.