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{{Short description|Indian-Australian singer and actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anusha Dandekar
| image = Anusha Dandekar grace the Mamma Mia Pink Carpet at Jio World Centre BKC Bandra (cropped).jpg
| caption = Dandekar in 2023
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Khartoum]], [[Sudan]]
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| citizenship = Australia
| other_names =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|[[VJ (media personality)|VJ]]|host|actress|singer|model}}
| years_active = 2003–present
| employer =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| style =
| height = 
| television =
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives = {{Unbulleted list|[[Shibani Dandekar]] (sister)|[[Farhan Akhtar]] (brother-in-law)}}
| awards =
| website = 
| signature =
| signature_size =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}
'''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)|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 people|Marathi]] family from [[Pune, India]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Long distance love |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160122/jsp/t2/story_65088.jsp#.Vz4oz-Rn2W4 |date=22 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126055500/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160122/jsp/t2/story_65088.jsp#.VqcKNx3LeL8 |archive-date=26 January 2016 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=11 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gahlaut |first1=Kanika |title=Not an item |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20030616-mtv-vj-anusha-dandekar-hates-being-labelled-an-item-girl-792709-2003-06-15 |website=India Today |access-date=19 May 2016 |date=16 June 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kharade |first=Pallavi |title=People like anything about celebrities |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune-times/People-like-anything-about-celebrities-/articleshow/1874763.cms |access-date=11 January 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 August 2006 |quote=Very few people know that, being a Maharashtrian, Anusha speaks fluent Marathi.}}</ref>

She was raised in [[Kingsgrove]], a suburb of [[Sydney, Australia]], along with her sisters [[Shibani Dandekar|Shibani]] and Apeksha Dandekar. In the early 2000s, she moved to [[Mumbai]] to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.<ref name="toi">{{cite news |last=Sen |first=Zinia |title=I've never faced racism |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Ive-never-faced-racism-Anusha/articleshow/4720648.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219233506/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-01/tv/28199656_1_music-album-racial-attacks-anusha-dandekar |url-status=live |archive-date=19 December 2013 |access-date=11 January 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=1 July 2009}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:Anusha dhandekar first album launch.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Dandekar at the launch of her first single]]

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 (Indian TV channel)|MTV]]'s ''House of Style''. She later hosted ''MTV Dance Crew'', ''MTV Teen Diva'', ''[[MTV News]]'' and ''MTV Love School''<ref>{{cite news |title=Anusha Dandekar not keen to work on small screen |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/anusha-dandekar-not-keen-to-work-on-small-screen/articleshow/55997403.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=15 December 2016}}</ref> for the network.

In 2008, she won ''Best VJ'' at the [[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] Fun Fearless Female Awards.<ref name="Masala">{{cite news |title=Cosmopolitan awards 2008 |url=http://www.masala.com/photos/cosmopolitan-awards-2008-8675.html?page=23&img=23 |agency=masala.com |date=25 November 2008}}</ref> As of 2014, Dandekar is a judge on ''India's Next Top Model'' alongside model-actress [[Lisa Haydon]].<ref>{{cite news |title=We need to bring back concept of supermodels: Anusha Dandekar |url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/we-need-to-bring-back-concept-of-supermodels-anusha-dandekar_1902917.html |publisher=[[Zee News]] |date=3 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=Sify2014>{{cite web |title=Anusha Dandekar, Lisa Haydon launch 'India's Next Top Model' |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/anusha-dandekar-lisa-haydon-launch-india-s-next-top-model-imagegallery-bollywood-phppQsjjficga.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717022611/http://www.sify.com/movies/Anusha-Dandekar-Lisa-Haydon-launch-India-s-Next-Top-Model-imagegallery-Bollywood-phppQsjjficga.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2015 |date=1998–2014 |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2003, Dandekar made her acting debut in [[Bollywood]] with ''[[Mumbai Matinee]]'' and went on to do ''[[Viruddh]]'' in 2005,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mulla |first1=Zainab |title=Anusha Dandekar birthday: MTV Love School 2 hosts Karan Kundra & Anusha Dandekar are truly in love! |url=http://www.india.com/buzz/anusha-dandekar-birthday-mtv-love-school-2-hosts-karan-kundra-anusha-dandekar-are-truly-in-love-pics-1631811/ |agency=India.com |date=9 January 2017}}</ref> alongside Bollywood veterans [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Sanjay Dutt]], [[Sharmila Tagore]] and [[John Abraham]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Can you recognise this young girl? She has grown up to be one of India's most popular VJ |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/can-you-recognise-this-young-girl-she-has-grown-up-to-be-one-of-indias-most-popular-vj/articleshow/58354772.cms |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Her performance in the film won her the Best Debut Award at the [[Maharashtra Times]] Awards in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Here are the talkies! |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/09/14/stories/2005091401140100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110084405/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/09/14/stories/2005091401140100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=14 September 2005 |access-date=13 February 2008 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Anthony Kaun Hai |url=http://www.zeenews.com/nri/inner1.asp?aid=197510&sid=SHT&ssid=4 |publisher=[[Zee News]] |date=1 October 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202409/http://www.zeenews.com/nri/inner1.asp?aid=197510&sid=SHT&ssid=4 |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> In 2012, she made her [[Marathi (language)|Marathi]] film debut with her role in ''Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha''.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Anusha overcame her nauvari woes |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIPU/2012/06/06/24/Ar02402.xml&CollName=TOI_PUNE_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=483577&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EAnusha%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EDandekar%29&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919204925/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIPU/2012/06/06/24/Ar02402.xml&CollName=TOI_PUNE_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=483577&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EAnusha%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EDandekar%29&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2018 |work=[[Pune Times]] |date=6 June 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, Dandekar made her music debut with single ''Better Than Your Ex''. The song, in the [[English language]], was released in June.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anusha's Better Than Your EX! |url=http://www.mtvindia.com/thebuzz/music/anushas-better-than-your-ex-9337.html |agency=[[MTV India]] |date=7 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaudhuri |first1=Nupur |title=MARATHI MULGI GETS HER DUE |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIPU/2012/04/29/23/Ar02300.xml&CollName=TOI_PUNE_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=468569&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EAnusha%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EDandekar%29&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919204918/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIPU/2012/04/29/23/Ar02300.xml&CollName=TOI_PUNE_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=468569&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EAnusha%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EDandekar%29&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=29 April 2012}}</ref>

A fashion icon, Dandekar has also graced the covers of ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'', ''[[Elle (India)|Elle]]'' and ''[[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen]]''. She has also endorsed the brands [[Reebok]], [[Toni & Guy]], [[Crocs]] and [[Lee Jeans]].<ref>{{cite web |title=OC INTERVIEW: OPEN CHEST INTERVIEW WITH MTV VEEJAY, ANUSHA DANDEKAR |url=http://www.openchest.com/oc-in-print/veejay-model-anusha-dandekar/ |website=openchest.com |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620011602/http://www.openchest.com/oc-in-print/veejay-model-anusha-dandekar/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2017 she became a mentor on a show ''[[India's Next Top Model]]'', which is aired on [[MTV (Indian TV channel)|MTV India]].

== Discography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Notes
|-
! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]
! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]
! scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]
|-
| 2012
! scope="row" | ''Better Than Your Ex''
| — || — || —
| Single
|-
| colspan="6" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|-
|}

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Ref.
|-
|2003
|''[[Mumbai Matinee]]''
|Anusha, the temptress
|
|-
|2005
|''[[Viruddh]]''
|Jenny
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Anthony Kaun Hai?]]''
|Rosa
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Hello (2008 film)|Hello]]''
|Shefali
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
|''[[City of Gold (2010 film)|City of Gold]]''
|Manasi
|
|-
|''[[Lalbaug Parel]]''
|Manasi
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Delhi Belly (film)|Delhi Belly]]''
|VJ Sophaya
|
|-
|2012
|''Jai Jai Maharashtra Maaza''
|Ashwini Stevenson
|
|-
|2018
|''[[Bhavesh Joshi Superhero]]''
|Dancer in the song "Chavanprash"
|
|-
|2023
|''[[Baap Manus]]''
|Krisha
|
|-
|2024
|''[[Juna Furniture]]''
|Avni Pathak
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
! Title
! Role
!Notes
|-
|2008
|''MTV Dance Crew''
| rowspan="6" |Host
|
|-
|2009
|''MTV Teen Diva''
|
|-
|2010
|''[[MTV Rock On]]''
|
|-
|2015-2018
|''[[India's Next Top Model]]''
|
|-
|2016-2019
|''[[MTV Love School]]''
|
|-
|2019-2021
|''[[MTV Supermodel of the Year|Supermodel of the Year]]''
|
|}

=== Special appearances ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2018
|''MTV Troll Police''
| rowspan="2" |Guest
|
|-
|''[[Ace of Space 1]]''
|
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{{awards table}}
!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|2004
| ''[[Mumbai Matinee]]''
| [[Stardust Awards|Stardust Award]] for Most Exciting New Face
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|2006
| ''[[Viruddh]]''
| [[Stardust Award for Breakthrough Performance – Female]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|2006
| ''[[Viruddh]]''
| [[Maharashtra Times]] Sanmaan Best Debut Award
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|2007
| Herself
| [[Filmfare Awards|Filmfare Award]] for Best Face
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|2009
| Herself
| [[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] Fun Fearless Female Award for Best VJ
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Masala"/>
|-
|2010
| Herself
| [[Femina (India)|Femina]]'s List of 50 Most Beautiful Women in India Award
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Anusha Dandekar}}
* {{official website|http://www.anushadandekar.com}}
* {{IMDb name|1458356}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dandekar, Anusha}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Actresses from Pune]]
[[Category:People from Khartoum]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Sudanese emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Actresses from Sydney]]
[[Category:Australian film actresses]]
[[Category:Australian women singers]]
[[Category:Australian video jockeys]]
[[Category:Australian game show hosts]]
[[Category:Australian women television presenters]]
[[Category:Australian people of Marathi descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Actresses of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate actresses in India]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian women singers]]

Anusha Dandekar - Revision history

Udesign at 09:00, 8 February 2026