American dancer Lauren Gottlieb went from competing on So You Think You Can Dance to starring in Bollywood’s ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. Her unexpected career shift involved an offer from director Remo D’Souza, a move to India and learning Hindi.
Before becoming known to Indian audiences, Lauren Gottlieb was building a dance career in the United States. Born in Arizona, she competed on the third season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2007, reaching the final six contestants before pursuing professional opportunities in Hollywood.
Her career took an unexpected turn in 2013 when she made her Bollywood debut in ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. The film introduced her to Indian audiences and opened the door to further acting and television opportunities in a country where she initially did not speak the language.
Before Bollywood: Lauren Gottlieb’s American Dance Career
Gottlieb grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and began dancing at seven. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional career.
Her breakthrough came through So You Think You Can Dance, which introduced her to a national audience. She subsequently worked as a dancer and choreographer, with credits involving performers such as Rihanna, Shakira and Mariah Carey.
Despite her success, Gottlieb wanted to move beyond supporting other artists and establish herself as a screen performer. Her opportunity arrived from an unexpected source.
How Remo D’Souza Discovered Lauren Gottlieb
Gottlieb’s Bollywood journey began with a disappointment in Hollywood.
In a 2025 interview with The New Indian Express, she recalled losing the lead role in Step Up 4. That same evening, she received an email from Indian filmmaker Remo D’Souza, who had seen her on So You Think You Can Dance.
D’Souza wanted her to appear in his upcoming dance film, ABCD: Any Body Can Dance. Although Gottlieb knew little about Bollywood, the opportunity to play a leading role convinced her to travel to Mumbai.
Released in February 2013, ABCD featured Prabhu Deva, Ganesh Acharya and a cast of accomplished dancers. Gottlieb played Rhea, a role that allowed her to use her professional dance experience while entering a new film industry.
Moving to India and Finding Success on Television
Gottlieb initially struggled with the cultural differences and unfamiliar working environment in Mumbai. After completing ABCD, she returned to the United States, uncertain whether she would continue working in India.
She eventually returned to explore further opportunities. In a 2015 interview with The Times of India, she recalled receiving an offer to compete on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa shortly before her visa expired.
The opportunity changed her career. Partnering with choreographer Punit Pathak, Gottlieb finished as runner-up in the show’s sixth season in 2013.
Her performances introduced her to a broader Indian television audience and helped establish her reputation beyond ABCD. She was no longer simply an American dancer appearing in a Hindi film but a familiar personality on Indian television.
Learning Hindi for a Bollywood Career
One of Gottlieb’s biggest challenges was learning Hindi. She arrived in India without speaking the language but needed to deliver convincing dialogue in ABCD.
In an interview with Dance Informa, she described working with Hindi coach Kishor Sadhwani and using phonetic spellings to master unfamiliar words.
The preparation involved learning pronunciation while understanding the emotions behind her lines. She continued improving her Hindi after filming, particularly through everyday interactions and appearances on Indian television.
Her language training reflected a commitment to building a career in India rather than treating ABCD as a one-off international project.
From ABCD to Bollywood Films and Television
Following Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Gottlieb expanded her Indian entertainment career.
She appeared in Welcome 2 Karachi and reunited with Remo D’Souza for ABCD 2 in 2015, alongside Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor.
That year, she also returned to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa as a judge, just two years after competing on the programme. The transition demonstrated how quickly she had established herself within the Indian entertainment industry.
Her career also included setbacks. In later interviews, Gottlieb discussed professional disappointments and periods when acting opportunities became limited. Her success required continued adaptation rather than following a straightforward path to stardom.
Interesting Facts About Bollywood Actors: Lauren Gottlieb’s Unusual Journey
Several details distinguish Gottlieb from international performers who enter Bollywood through conventional acting auditions.
She was already recognised on American television before Indian audiences discovered her through ABCD and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Her Bollywood debut came after a Hollywood rejection, and her subsequent career required learning a new language and adapting to a different culture.
Another lesser-known aspect of her biography concerns her family history. Gottlieb has shared an account of her Austrian grandfather, whom she described as a Jewish Holocaust survivor who hid from the Nazis in a convent before emigrating to America. This is a detail of her family heritage, rather than a statement about her own religious identity.
Her journey connects American reality television, Hollywood choreography and Indian cinema in a way few Bollywood careers do.
An Unexpected Route Into Bollywood
Lauren Gottlieb’s career shows how an international entertainment opportunity can develop into something much bigger than a single film.
After making her name on American dance television, she found acting opportunities in India, learned Hindi and became a familiar face on Indian reality TV.
Her experience remains an unusual Bollywood success story, one that began with a filmmaker’s unexpected email and led to a new professional life thousands of kilometres from home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lauren Gottlieb?
Lauren Gottlieb is an American dancer and actress known for So You Think You Can Dance, ABCD: Any Body Can Dance and ABCD 2.
How did Lauren Gottlieb enter Bollywood?
Remo D’Souza approached her after seeing her on So You Think You Can Dance and cast her in ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013).
Did Lauren Gottlieb learn Hindi?
Yes. Gottlieb worked with a Hindi language coach while preparing for ABCD and continued improving her Hindi while working in India.
Which Indian reality show featured Lauren Gottlieb?
She finished as runner-up on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 6 in 2013 and returned as a judge in 2015.
Which Bollywood movies has Lauren Gottlieb appeared in?
Her Hindi-film credits include ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013), Welcome 2 Karachi (2015) and ABCD 2 (2015).
