Discovered on one of the first and most explosive reality shows in India just before she turned 18, Anushka Manchanda is a brand of musician who is fiercely individualistic and ever evolving, an artist who started as a singer and has grown into a music producer, an editor and an actor.
TELEVISION : Born into a family who loves their rock and roll, she was picked from thousands of girls across the country to be a part of VIVA, India’s most successful, all-girl band which sold over half a million copies of their first album and were on the biggest reality show the country had ever seen. Her connect with the youth led Channel [V] to sign her on as a VJ. Her affair with television continued, and she won the second season of the celebrity version of Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi. Her love for motorcycles also led to her hosting Mtv’s Stuntmania.
BOLLYWOOD PLAYBACK : Launched into the Bollywood playback scene with her first super hit song Golmaal, she was hailed as the voice of the new generation and has worked with the hottest music directors in the country from Vishal-Shekhar, Salim-Suleiman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to Jigar-Sachin, Pritam and Amit Trivedi.
VOICE COLLABORATIONS : She has always experimented with sound, and has collaborated with several Indian and international musicians, Djs and producers like Chicane, Akcent, Ma Faiza, Anish Sood, Nanok, Ashvin Mani Sharma and Ash Roy (previously Jalebee Cartel) and Mikey Mc Cleary and is also the voice speaking to you behind advertisements for brands like Vodafone, Levis, Lakme, Sony, Nokia, Dove and Nivea.
ACTING : Anushka found herself in front of the camera in a new avatar as an actor for a film titled Angry Indian Goddesses directed by Pan Nalin. The film premiered at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival and won the runner up prize to the Audience Choice Award and her name was featured in the list of 15 breakthrough actors from the festival. Angry Indian Goddesses went on to be released in multiple languages in over 70 countries around the world, winning People Choice Awards at many films festivals.
MUSIC PRODUCTION : Tired of working with people who did not share the same passion as her on a bunch of projects, Anushka decided to take things into her own hands and took a summer off to study music production in New York. Now she and her younger brother Shikhar Yuvraj Manchanda work together and have produced music for brands like Reebok, Jack & Jones and Swiss Tourism.
EDITING : Frustrated with an editor who was not getting what she wanted for a video of her showreel, she taught herself how to use editing software, and now edits projects that excite her. She has edited the critically acclaimed video Lay You Down for the Indian producer Nanok which features two women who are in love, in which she features as an actor herself, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in India. She is also the editor behind the cutting edge music videos for Jack & Jones featuring Ranveer Singh, having produced the music for them with Shikhar as well.
STAGE PERFORMANCE : Anushka is known for her high energy performances, often jumping off stage, climbing onto barriers to interact with her audience, and giving traditional Bollywood performances a heavy dose of rock and roll.
Always ready to learn something new, Anushka is now working on a project with a youth oriented fashion label. Watch this space..