Rahul Gupta says he was called many names for choosing belly dance. He recalls being labelled a “nachaniya,” questioned about his gender, and criticised for his appearance and movement. He says the comments came from strangers, neighbours, relatives, and people online, especially after his videos began circulating widely.
Rahul explains that he chose belly dance because it gives him a sense of calm. He says he practised other dance forms, but belly dance felt different to him. According to him, belly dance allows softer movement and expression, which helped him understand himself better. He believes the form does not depend on gender, body type, or shape.
His mother, Priya Gupta, recalls that Rahul began dancing at temples and small local events as a child. She says his father wanted him to become an engineer, but Rahul was drawn to dance from an early age. When Rahul expressed interest in belly dance, his father objected, saying boys should not do it. His mother supported Rahul and continued taking him to performances and events.
Rahul grew up in Haryana, where he says male belly dancers were not visible at the time he started, around 15–16 years ago. He recalls people questioning his clothes, his hair, and his identity. He shares incidents where neighbours and relatives made comments about whether he was a boy or a girl. He says such remarks affected him deeply, especially when they came from family members or elders.
During auditions for a television dance show, Rahul says judges criticised his costume and questioned why a boy was dancing in traditional belly dance attire. He says this led to conflict at home, and for a period, he was asked to leave. At a young age, he began teaching dance to earn money so he could continue training.
Rahul later decided to make belly dance his profession. He began performing and teaching and eventually studied fashion so he could design his own costumes after being criticised for his clothing at a fashion show. He says creating his own costumes helped him continue performing without depending on others.
When one of his dance videos went viral in Mumbai in 2023, Rahul says the attention brought large-scale online abuse. He describes feeling isolated, struggling to eat, and avoiding conversations. He later sought therapy, where he was encouraged to return to dance as a way of coping.
Rahul says social media helped him reach international platforms and performance opportunities. Today, he continues to dance, teach, and share videos. He says belly dance is an Egyptian classical art form and believes anyone can practise it. His message, supported by his mother, is that children should be allowed to choose their own paths while families stand with them as they move forward.
