Choreographer Rajit Dev has added a landmark achievement to his body of work by becoming the first Indian choreographer to choreograph an official FIFA World Cup anthem. He has choreographed Siir Siir, featuring Nora Fatehi, French singer-songwriter Vegedream and music producer Sanjoy. The track, featured on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album, marks a major international milestone for the choreographer. Shot in Morocco, the song brought together global talent while also showcasing Rajit's team of Indian dancers.
His association with Nora Fatehi, which goes back almost a decade, played a key role in him becoming part of the project. He shares, "I have been associated with Nora for almost a decade and have choreographed all her international songs. So, when she got the opportunity to be part of the FIFA anthem, the first thing she did was bring me on board for the choreography. She has always appreciated my work, and our collaborations have often created a new wave within the dance community."
Beyond the professional milestone, the project holds personal significance for him. Having grown up playing football, being associated with a FIFA anthem is something he never imagined. Rajit, who has choreographed music videos for Coco, Bijlee Bijlee and Baarish Ki Jaaye, says, "It is a huge milestone in my career and I feel proud of where I have reached. As someone who grew up playing football, choreographing the FIFA World Cup anthem is a goosebump moment. Becoming the first Indian choreographer to do so makes it even more special. I cannot express that feeling in words. I look forward to working on more international projects so I can showcase Indian culture and dance styles on a larger platform."
Filming in Morocco came with its own set of challenges, particularly a large-scale sequence that had to be completed inside a football stadium within a very limited timeframe. He recalls, "Nora and I have always created magic together when it comes to dance. I met Vegedream directly on the sets in Morocco and he was an amazing artiste with incredible swag and screen presence. One of the biggest challenges was that we were given access to the football stadium for only 15 minutes. My experience came in handy because I planned everything outside the pitch and rehearsed extensively with the entire crew beforehand. Everyone knew exactly what had to be done in those 15 minutes. I was confident that my dancers could pull it off."
Even while catering to a global audience, he was determined to retain an Indian flavour within the choreography. He says, "The main highlight of the song is that it features all Indian dancers from my team, Team RDX. The kind of energy Indians bring to a song is unmatched. We put our desi soul and energy into it while still keeping it international in its appeal."
When it comes to choreography, his approach remains instinctive and driven by music. He shares, "My creative process is very simple. I listen to the track, and the music makes me move in a certain way. One thing I knew from the beginning was that this was an anthem song, so it needed a lot of energy, and I choreographed it accordingly."
More than anything, the experience reinforced his belief in the potential of Indian dancers on the world stage. "I have worked on international projects before, but what makes this one special is that I did it with my dancers from India. Becoming the first Indian choreographer to choreograph an official FIFA World Cup anthem is a proud moment, but it is equally satisfying to see Indian dancers represented on such a massive platform. I believe we are second to none. Given the opportunity, we will do our best on any world stage," he concludes.
