Long before 'Kill', Raghav Juyal took India by storm with his appearance on Dance India Dance 3 (2012).
Last year, when 'Kill' hit the screens, Raghav Juyal grabbed all the limelight with a dark, chilling performance that made him the surprise package of the film. Everyone was talking about this “new” villain. But not many still know that Raghav isn’t really new in the game. Over a decade ago, in 2012, he walked onto the Dance India Dance 3 stage with his signature slow-motion style, and the world sat up to watch. Despite not being a traditionally trained dancer, he effortlessly took the show to new heights. From being the underdog to becoming DID's biggest sensation, Raghav told stories through movement.
Today, on his birthday, let's revisit the days of the "Slow-Mo King."
Raghav (then a commerce graduate from Dehradun) walked into DID 3 without any formal dance training. And yet his slow‑mo style and quirky charm earned attention immediately. That viral clip featuring his ‘Crockroaxz’ persona and mesmerizing slow‑motion walk remains one of DID’s most-watched performances to date.
(Credit: Dance India Dance)
Raghav didn’t follow the textbook choreography. Instead, he crafted routines that felt otherworldly; especially his iconic slow‑mo walk was a revelation. Judges, including Terrence Lewis, marveled that they’d never seen such a realistic slow-motion effect on an Indian stage before. Under the mentorship of Terence, Raghav even lived in his studio for weeks, assisting and absorbing choreography before re-emerging on television with renewed vigor.
.@TheRaghav_Juyal does a quick dance move at the #ColorsGPA Red Carpet! pic.twitter.com/fDe7ci1haJ
— ColorsTV (@ColorsTV) March 7, 2016
(Credit: ColorsTV)
Raghav was eliminated from the show, but public demand made Grand Master Mithun Chakraborty reintroduce him on the show as his "trump card" in the wild-card round. Once back in the competition, Raghav raced to the finals, riding waves of fan love. He topped weekly public votes more than anyone else, finishing as second runner-up, yet his impact was far greater. His authenticity and unmatched charisma made him the season’s most popular contestant.
His DID journey didn’t end at the finale. Raghav transitioned into a skipper role for DID Li’l Masters 2, where his team “Raghav Ke Rockstars” clinched top positions. He then captained the winning team on Dance Ke Superkids and later became the charismatic host of Dance Plus for six seasons. He also hosted Dance Deewane 3 in 2021 alongside Madhuri Dixit.
Glimpse from the Dance Deewane press event in Mumbai, India. Dance Deewane 3 @MadhuriDixit @TheTusharKalia @dthevirus31 @TheRaghav_Juyal #colorsapac #colorstv #DD3 #DanceDeewane pic.twitter.com/PSu7ExZvbe
— Raghav juyal Team (@Raghav_Updates) February 16, 2021
(Credit: Raghav juyal Team)
Raghav Juyal made his acting debut in 2014 with 'Sonali Cable', where critics praised his screen presence, even saying he outshone the leads. But it was 'ABCD 2' in 2015, alongside Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor, that truly spotlighted his versatility. Over the years, he juggled hosting hit shows like Dance Plus and Rising Star while slowly building a unique acting portfolio. From quirky roles in 'Nawabzaade' to a dark, chilling turn in 'Abhay' and 'Bahut Hua Samman', Raghav proved he could handle it all: comedy, intensity, charm. And then 'Kill' came, where he stunned everyone with a brutal performance that finally earned him the IIFA Award for Best Negative Role in 2025. So what began with a viral audition has now evolved into a serious acting career.
Speaking about his dance philosophy, Raghav once shared in an interview, “The Slow‑Motion wasn’t planned”, adding he simply followed what felt right in the moment. And as you may agree, sometimes the best thing happens absolutely unexpectedly.
