Akanksha Awasthi
Artist and Art Director in Bihar
Akanksha Awasthi: From Lucknow's Small Screen to Bhojpuri Cinema's Rising Star
Akanksha Awasthi has built one of the more versatile careers in Indian entertainment, moving effortlessly between television drama and Bhojpuri cinema over nearly two decades in the industry. Born on July 17, 1992, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, she represents a generation of performers who found success by refusing to limit themselves to a single medium.
Early Career and TV Breakthrough
Akanksha's journey began in 2006 with small television roles before she landed the part that would define her early career: Rohini Pushkar in Colors TV's long-running family drama Uttaran. Playing the role from 2009 to 2012, she became a familiar face in Indian households during the show's peak popularity, appearing alongside a large ensemble cast in what remains one of Hindi television's most-watched serials.
Beyond Uttaran, Akanksha built a diverse television resume that included appearances in:
Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (Star Plus)Waqt Batayega Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya (Sony TV)Sindhu BhairaviVaalsalyamKhel Qismat KaDabang Sarkar (2018)VivahJai Hind (2019)
This range of roles across multiple networks showed early on that Akanksha wasn't interested in being typecast — she was building a body of work.
The Move to Bhojpuri Cinema
In 2018, Akanksha made a significant career shift by debuting in Bhojpuri cinema with Dabang Sarkar, starring opposite industry heavyweight Khesari Lal Yadav. The film performed well, and it opened the door to a string of Bhojpuri projects that expanded her fanbase well beyond television audiences.
She went on to work with some of Bhojpuri cinema's biggest names, including Pawan Singh, and featured in films such as:
Her ability to hold her own in a film industry known for its passionate, dedicated fanbase speaks to her adaptability as a performer — few TV actors successfully make that crossover.
Hindi Cinema and Other Work
Akanksha also stepped into Bollywood, appearing as a Lady Constable in the 2017 action film Rocky Handsome, alongside John Abraham. She also featured in the TV series Ishq Mein Marjawan (2017), further diversifying her on-screen credits across formats.
Life Beyond the Camera
Known for her bubbly, friendly personality on set, Akanksha has often spoken about her love for travel and cooking in interviews. A self-described lifelong cinema enthusiast, she has built a loyal social media following where she shares glimpses of her personal life, on-set moments, and appearances.
What's Next
With a career spanning television, Bhojpuri cinema, and Bollywood, Akanksha Awasthi continues to be an actress who defies easy categorization. As Bhojpuri cinema keeps growing its national footprint and crossover TV-to-film careers become more common, she remains a name to watch across multiple industries.