Karan Aujla teaches Jimmy Fallon bhangra, makes historic Punjabi takeover on The Tonight Show
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsPunjabi music icon Karan Aujla made history with his grand debut on NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a high-energy medley of his hit tracks “Boyfriend” and “Gabhru.”
His dynamic performance marked a landmark moment for Punjabi music, bringing vibrant desi energy to an international stage and leaving fans worldwide thrilled.
The appearance wasn't just about music, Aujla also brought a touch of Punjabi culture to the show by turning dance coach for host Jimmy Fallon.
In a fun and light-hearted moment, Karan taught Fallon some classic bhangra moves. A video shared on the official Tonight Show Instagram account showed the duo bonding over dance, with Fallon admitting, “I’m not ready for this,” before Aujla encouraged him with, “It’s easy, it’s easy.”
Their brief dance tutorial ended with Fallon enthusiastically exclaiming, “Let’s go, man. That’s what I’m talking about!”
The caption on the viral post read: “@karanaujla teaches Jimmy some bhangra! #KaranOnFallon #FallonTonight”
This marks a significant milestone not only in Karan Aujla’s career but also for Punjabi music globally, showcasing its rising influence on mainstream Western platforms.
Karan Aujla began his musical journey as a songwriter, penning “Range” for Jassi Gill’s album Replay. He later collaborated with artists like Deep Jandu and Elly Mangat, before making his debut as a singer in 2016 with “Property of Punjab.” His rise to fame came with hits like “Yaarian Ch Fikk,” “Unity,” “Alcohol 2,” and “Lafaafe.” He gained mainstream popularity in 2018 with “Don’t Worry”, his first track to chart on the UK Asian Music Chart.
By 2020, Aujla had solidified his status with multiple charting singles, including “Jhanjar,” “Red Eyes,” and “Kya Baat Aa,” all of which entered the Top 10, while “So Far” made it to the Top 5.