IIT Bombay professor's Nainowale Ne dance on stage gets loud cheers from students

Professor Ruchi Anand of IIT Bombay performed gracefully at the chemistry department's in-house symposium. The video has gone viral.Professor Ruchi Anand's graceful dance at an IIT Bombay event has won hearts. (Photos: Instagram/@prashant.singghh)A professor’s graceful dance at an IIT Bombay (Indian Institute of Technology), department event has caught the internet’s attention, offering a glimpse of a side of academic life that is rarely seen beyond lecture halls and laboratories.Shared on Instagram, a video shows Professor Ruchi Anand, Head of the Chemistry Department at IIT Bombay, dancing during a cultural performance at an in-house symposium organised by the department.Dressed in a traditional outfit, Anand can be seen performing to Nainowale Ne, the soulful track sung by Neeti Mohan for the 2018 film Padmaavat, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. Anand's performance matched the song’s gentle rhythm with delicate hand movements and expressive gestures. As the clip went viral, many viewers were equally struck by the person performing it.Watch the video here; Anand is an alumna of IIT Kanpur and holds a PhD from Cornell University in the US. As a scientist and academic, much of her professional life revolves around research, teaching and the pursuit of knowledge. The video, however, offered a glimpse of another interest; one that exists alongside her demanding academic career.Several users praised her for continuing to make space for her passion despite her professional commitments. The reactions also reflected a broader appreciation for people who pursue interests outside the identities associated with their careers.Sometimes, passion has little to do with one’s designation. It simply finds a way to make room for itself.- EndsPublished By: Srimoyee ChowdhuryPublished On: Sep 2, 2026 10:34 IST