Anusha Dandekar (born 9 January 1982) is an Indian-Australian VJ, actress, and singer based in India. She is best known as a television host on MTV India and for her appearances in Bollywood films. Dandekar has also worked as a judge on reality television and has been active in music, fashion, and advocacy.
Early life Anusha Dandekar was born on 9 January 1982 in Khartoum, Sudan, to a Marathi family from Pune, India.
She was raised in Kingsgrove, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, along with her sisters Shibani and Apeksha Dandekar. In the early 2000s, she moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Career
In 2002, at the age of 19, Dandekar moved to Mumbai, Maharashtra to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She was cast as an anchor in MTV's House of Style. She later hosted MTV Dance Crew, MTV Teen Diva, MTV News and MTV Love School for the network.
In 2008, she won Best VJ at the Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female Awards. As of 2014, Dandekar is a judge on India's Next Top Model alongside model-actress Lisa Haydon.
In 2003, Dandekar made her acting debut in Bollywood with Mumbai Matinee and went on to do Viruddh in 2005, alongside Bollywood veterans Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sharmila Tagore and John Abraham. Her performance in the film won her the Best Debut Award at the Maharashtra Times Awards in 2006. She then went on to star in the musical Miss Bollywood. Later in 2006, she starred in Anthony Kaun Hai? alongside Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Dutt. In 2012, she made her Marathi film debut with her role in Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha.
In 2012, Dandekar made her music debut with single Better Than Your Ex. The song, in the English language, was released in June.
A fashion icon, Dandekar has also graced the covers of Cosmopolitan, Elle and Seventeen. She has also endorsed the brands Reebok, Toni & Guy, Crocs and Lee Jeans.
In 2017 she became a mentor on a show India's Next Top Model, which is aired on MTV India.
Discography Year Title Peak chart positions Notes US CAN UK 2012 Better Than Your Ex — — — Single "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Ref.2003Mumbai MatineeAnushaHindi-English bilingual film2005ViruddhJenny2006Anthony Kaun Hai?Rosa2008HelloShefali2010City of GoldManasiLalbaug ParelMarathi film2011Delhi BellyVJ Sophaya2012Jai Jai Maharashtra MaazaAshwini StevensonMarathi film2018Bhavesh Joshi SuperheroDancer in the song "Chavanprash"2023Baap ManusKrishaMarathi film2024Juna FurnitureAvni Pathak
Television
Special appearances +
Awards and nominations
! |- |2004 | Mumbai Matinee | Stardust Award for Most Exciting New Face | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |2006 | Viruddh | Stardust Award for Breakthrough Performance – Female | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |2006 | Viruddh | Maharashtra Times Sanmaan Best Debut Award | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |2007 | Herself | Filmfare Award for Best Face | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |2009 | Herself | Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female Award for Best VJ | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |2010 | Herself | Femina's List of 50 Most Beautiful Women in India Award | | style="text-align:center;"|
References
External links