Season 2 of Dance Plus, carrying the tagline “Get Set Go,” aired on Star Plus starting July 2, 2016. Produced by Varun Trikha Productions alongside Urban Brew Studios and Frames Production, the season ran for 25 episodes before wrapping up with a grand finale in Mumbai on September 25, 2016.
The Show’s Format and Panel
Raghav Juyal returned as host for the second consecutive season, bringing his characteristic energy to proceedings. Remo D’Souza served as super judge, overseeing three mentor-choreographers — Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, and Punit Pathak — each of whom built and led their own team of dancers through the competition.
Auditions ran across multiple Indian cities between May 3 and May 26, 2016, drawing a wide field of solo performers and dance crews before narrowing down to the season’s finalists.
Who Won Dance Plus 2?
Fourteen-year-old Tanay Malhara, a dancer from Jalgaon, Maharashtra competing under Team Dharmesh, was named the winner. His path to the title ran through DID Li’l Masters Season 2, where he’d first built a following before joining Dance Plus.
The Wild Ripperz Crew, also from Team Dharmesh, finished as runners-up. Piyush Bhagat and Sushant Khatri, both from Team Shakti, rounded out second and third runner-up positions respectively — with Khatri notably having traveled from Nepal to compete.
Grand Finale Details
The finale aired on September 25, 2016, between 8 and 10 PM, with Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor appearing to promote Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Olympic bronze medalist wrestler Sakshi Malik joining as a special guest. Malik’s appearance included pressing the show’s signature “plus” button, which reportedly triggered a rare “double plus” response from Remo D’Souza — a first for the series at that point.
Prize Money and Rewards
Malhara’s win came with a prize package reported at ₹25 lakh, along with the Dance Plus 2 trophy and a car. The runners-up also received a mix of prizes, including two-wheelers and cash rewards, according to various contemporary reports, though Malhara’s overall haul remained the standout.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Premiere | July 2, 2016 |
| Finale | September 25, 2016 |
| Channel | Star Plus |
| Host | Raghav Juyal |
| Super Judge | Remo D’Souza |
| Mentors | Dharmesh Yelande, Shakti Mohan, Punit Pathak |
| Winner | Tanay Malhara (Team Dharmesh) |
| Runner-up | Wild Ripperz Crew (Team Dharmesh) |
| 2nd/3rd Runners-up | Piyush Bhagat, Sushant Khatri (Team Shakti) |
| Prize | ₹25 lakh, trophy, car |
| Finale guests | Ranbir Kapoor, Sakshi Malik |
Final Thoughts
Dance Plus 2 is often remembered as much for Tanay Malhara’s age as his technical skill — a 14-year-old holding his own across a season built around some of India’s most demanding choreographers. His victory helped cement the show’s reputation for spotlighting young talent, a pattern it would continue in later seasons.