Vaibhavi Merchant is experiencing a wave of elation after winning the National Film Award for Best Choreography for the song "Dhindhora Baje Re" from the movie Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. This win marks her second National Award, with the first one earned 26 years ago for "Dholi Taro Dhol Baje" in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999).

Merchant, now 49, reflects on her initial win at the age of 21, admitting she didn't fully grasp the award's magnitude at the time. After years of relentless work, she yearned for substantial work that would once again merit such recognition. "For me, this National Award is extremely important. I'm still dealing with the shock that I've actually won this after all these years, and I'm only grateful for this feeling that I'm feeling right now,” she stated.

The choreographer is particularly thrilled that the award recognized the craft of the song rather than just its popularity. She expressed reservations about receiving the honor for an item song, which she feels is often the norm due to a populist mindset.

Merchant also finds joy in sharing this recognition with her close friend, Rani Mukerji, who won her first National Award for Best Actress in Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway. Karan Johar, the director of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, also expressed his gratitude to the National Film Awards and extended his appreciation to Vaibhavi Merchant and her team for the choreography of "Dhindhora Baje Re".

Vaibhavi Merchant debuted as a choreographer in 1999 with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. After a brief hiatus, she returned and choreographed numerous songs in films such as Lagaan, Devdas, Bunty Aur Babli, Dhoom, Veer-Zaara, Aaja Nachle, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and Aiyyaa. She also choreographed "The Merchants of Bollywood," an Australian musical about her family.

Merchant sees this National Award as a tribute to classical art forms. She emphasized the importance of understanding the sanctity and gravitas of these art forms, which represent India's heritage and culture. She also expressed her amazement at how Ranveer Singh and Tota Roy Chowdhury, who are not classically trained dancers, were able to perform the dance so well.

The 71st National Film Awards celebrated a wide array of regional films, highlighting the cultural diversity within Indian cinema. The awards recognized both commercial successes and critically acclaimed films, honoring a mix of established and emerging talents. Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey shared the Best Actor award for Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively.