Video: Told ‘Men Don’t Do Lavni’, 19-YO Mumbai Boy Dances His Way Through Gender Bias

The lights warm the stage as a young man in a nauvari saree adjusts his ghungroos (ankle bells worn by Indian classical and folk dancers). His kohl-lined eyes hold focus, and when the music begins, 19-year-old Shrey Panchal does not hesitate. He moves with precision and grace, embodying the spirit of Lavni with a confidence that has unsettled long-held assumptions. From hiding backstage to proudly taking centre stage, Panchal’s journey has been one of self-expression and resolve. “With every step in my saree, I prove that art knows no gender — only devotion,” he says. He first stepped onto ...