Actress Karisma Kapoor used the occasion of Guru Purnima on 29 July to reflect on the mentors who shaped her artistry, saying that growing up in a family with deep roots in Indian cinema taught her that a true Guru goes far beyond imparting technique. The India's Best Dancer Season 5 judge opened up about lessons absorbed from her legendary family and the master filmmakers she collaborated with across her career.

What Karisma Kapoor Said

Sharing her thoughts, Karisma said: “Growing up in a family deeply rooted in cinema, and working with legendary masters on set, I learned early on that a true Guru doesn’t just teach you steps, they teach you how to own the stage with your soul. Watching the raw passion of the contestants on India’s Best Dancer Season 5 reminds me of that exact guidance. This Guru Purnima, my heart is full of gratitude for the teachers who taught me to dance with my heart before my feet, and I hope we can pass that same light down to our incredible talent this season.”

Fellow Judges Pay Tribute to Their Mentors

Co-judge Jaaved Jaaferi credited decades of mentorship for his philosophy of dance as freedom. “For me, dance has always been about freedom, rhythm, and finding your own voice. Over the decades, from the early days of street-style to standing on the magnificent stage of India’s Best Dancer Season 5, I’ve realized that a real Guru sheds away your inhibitions and unleashes your truest self. On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima, I bow down to the masters who kept me grounded in rhythm, and I salute every choreographer on our show who is selflessly shaping the future of ‘India Wala Dance’,” he said.

Judge Geeta Kapur, widely known as 'Geeta Maa', singled out choreographer Farah Khan as the defining influence on her own approach to nurturing talent. “They call me ‘Maa’ on the show, but everything I know about mentorship comes from the giants on whose shoulders I stand, especially my mentor, Farah Khan, who taught me how to nurture talent with tough love and an open heart. India’s Best Dancer Season 5 is not just a competition; it is a sacred Gurukul where dreams are shaped with sweat, tears, and unconditional belief. This Guru Purnima, I pray that we continue to guide our contestants with the same warmth, strict discipline, and blessings that our gurus showered upon us,” she said.

Rajeev Khandelwal Credits Parents as First Gurus

Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, who hosts 'Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar', took a more personal route, pointing to his parents as his earliest and most enduring guides. “Guru Purnima is a beautiful, humbling reminder that learning never stops, and that our truest guides are often the ones closest to us. My parents have been my very first gurus… I’ve realized that our greatest gurus often come in the most unassuming forms, guiding us through the simplest, purest truths. On this Guru Purnima, I am profoundly grateful to my parents, to the everyday superstars who inspire me, and to every individual who has helped shape the person I am today,” he said.

The Broader Significance

The reflections come as India’s Best Dancer Season 5 continues to air, with the panel of judges doubling as mentors to contestants in what Kapur described as a ‘sacred Gurukul.’ The outpouring on Guru Purnima — a festival traditionally dedicated to honouring teachers and spiritual guides — underscores the deep mentorship culture that runs through Indian performing arts. For Karisma, whose family name is synonymous with Hindi cinema, the day carried particular resonance as both a student and a guide to the next generation of dancers.