# Anand Tiwari (आनंद तिवारी)
**Anand Tiwari** (आनंद तिवारी) is an Indian film, television and stage actor, director, producer and writer who works primarily in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) and streaming series. He is known as an actor for films such as *Slumdog Millionaire* (2008), *Udaan* (2010), *Go Goa Gone* (2013) and *Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!* (2015), and as a director for the Netflix film *Love Per Square Foot* (2018), the Prime Video musical series *Bandish Bandits* (2020, 2024), the family drama *Maja Ma* (2022) and the comedy *Bad Newz* (2024).[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anand-tiwari/5943/filmography) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anand-tiwari/5943/filmography) |
| Professions | Actor, director, producer, writer; also credited as lyricist, playback singer and casting director[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anand-tiwari/credits/3030166408/) |
| Production company | Co-founded Still and Still Media Collective with writer-producer Amritpal Singh Bindra in 2013[4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits) |
| Directorial debut | *Love Per Square Foot* (2018), the first Indian film released on Netflix[5](https://www.indiawebfest.com/speaker/aanad-tiwari) |
| Signature series | *Bandish Bandits*, a musical romantic drama on Prime Video; season 1 streamed from 4 August 2020, season 2 from 13 December 2024[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ritwik-bhowmik-on-bandish-bandits-shreya-chaudhary-amazon-prime-video-6534790/lite/) • [7](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/prime-video-bandish-bandits-season-2-date) |
| Recognition | Filmfare OTT Awards nomination for Best Original Story for *Bandish Bandits*[8](https://indianexpress.com/about/anand-tiwari/) |
| Spouse | Actor Angira Dhar, married 30 April 2021[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/) |
## Background and training
Tiwari was born in Mumbai in 1983 and grew up in a family of doctors; his father and brother both studied medicine, but he wanted to be a storyteller from childhood.[1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anand-tiwari/5943/filmography) • [4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits) A Hindi-language profile records that he began performing in Ganpati and Navratri festival events and graduated in mass media from Mumbai University.[9](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/anand-tiwari.html) In a 2024 interview he said his family had moved to [Maharashtra](https://www.edgepedia.org/maharashtra) from [Raebareli](https://www.edgepedia.org/raebareli) four generations earlier, and that Hindi spoken at home carried both a Mumbai and a Maharashtra flavor.[10](https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/anand-tiwari-video-interview-by-pankaj-shukla-bandish-bandits-raebareli-hindi-classical-music-2024-12-27)
He trained in theater under the director Sunil Shanbag and has described the stage as the place where his Hindi and his sense of timing were formed; he acted the role of a "lamp post" in the play *One on One* for eleven years.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/love-per-square-foot-a-space-to-love-5062867/) • [4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits) He names [Naseeruddin Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/naseeruddin-shah) and [Anurag Basu](https://www.edgepedia.org/anurag-basu) as his gurus, saying that everything he knows about acting comes from Shah's training and that he often uses Shah's techniques when directing others.[4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits)
## Acting career
Tiwari's screen debut came with *Mumbai Meri Jaan* (2008), and he drew critical notice for roles in *Slumdog Millionaire* (2008), *Udaan* (2010), *[Kites](https://www.edgepedia.org/kites-film)* (2010) and *Aisha* (2010).[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/amp/person/anand-tiwari/5943) He became a familiar face in Bollywood comedy and genre films, most notably as Bunny in the zombie comedy *Go Goa Gone* (2013) and as Ajit, companion to [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://www.edgepedia.org/sushant-singh-rajput)'s Byomkesh, in *Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!* (2015).[13](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/interview-anand-tiwari-on-huge-praise-for-bandish-bandits/cid/1792077) Later acting credits include *Chhapaak* (2020), the courtroom thriller *Nail Polish* (2021), in which he played a prosecutor, and *Ae Watan Mere Watan* (2024).[12](https://in.bookmyshow.com/amp/person/anand-tiwari/5943) • [14](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/anand-tiwari-says-nail-polish-will-reach-a-large-audience-via-word-of-mouth-interview-1754838-2020-12-31) On television he appeared in the long-running series *C.I.D.* and the sitcom *Sumit Sambhal Lega*, and he was widely recognized from the Tata Tea "Jaago Re" commercial.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anand-tiwari/credits/3030166408/) • [4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits)
His route into filmmaking ran through assisting directors. He was an assistant director on Anurag Basu's *Barfi!* (2012) and on *The President Is Coming*, and he treated every set he acted on as a school, joining directors such as [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikramaditya-motwane), Raj and DK, and [Dibakar Banerjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/dibakar-banerjee) in meetings and pre-production on the days he was not performing.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-director-anand-tiwari-music-show-casting-6537449/lite/)
## Directing and producing
**Still and Still Media Collective.** In 2013 Tiwari and his friend, the writer-producer Amritpal Singh Bindra, founded the media company Still and Still Media Collective. Its first project was [Yash Raj Films](https://www.edgepedia.org/yash-raj-films)' web series *Bang Baaja Baaraat* (2015), which Tiwari directed.[4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/)
**Love Per Square Foot.** Tiwari's feature directorial debut, *Love Per Square Foot* (2018), starring [Vicky Kaushal](https://www.edgepedia.org/vicky-kaushal) and [Angira Dhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/angira-dhar), was made with Bindra in association with [Ronnie Screwvala](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronnie-screwvala)'s RSVP and was the first Indian film to release on Netflix.[5](https://www.indiawebfest.com/speaker/aanad-tiwari) • [13](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/interview-anand-tiwari-on-huge-praise-for-bandish-bandits/cid/1792077) Tiwari co-wrote the film with actor Sumeet Vyas and has said the story came from Mumbai itself, where space is a constant struggle and every tender moment in the film happens in a crowded place.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/love-per-square-foot-a-space-to-love-5062867/)
**Bandish Bandits.** Tiwari and Bindra, who had first met as assistant directors on the sets of *Barfi!*, spent about two and a half years developing *Bandish Bandits*, a ten-part romantic drama about a classical singer from a musical gharana (lineage-based school of [Indian classical music](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-classical-music) tradition) and a pop star from a different world.[16](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html) The show, with music by the composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, was described as the first Indian web series to have music at its core, and Tiwari said its aim was to make classical music relevant to the young.[16](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html) • [17](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/television-news/article/anand-tiwari-indian-music-is-as-sexy-as-jazz-and-hip-hop-20589184) He has said that directing a long series as its solo director, and interpreting another writer's vision for the first time, deepened his understanding of direction.[13](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/interview-anand-tiwari-on-huge-praise-for-bandish-bandits/cid/1792077)
Season 2 arrived on 13 December 2024, four years after the first, a gap Tiwari called intentional; he said the team took the same time to make it as season one and that the story is "of musicians, by musicians and for musicians."[7](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/prime-video-bandish-bandits-season-2-date) • [18](https://mid-day.http.akamai-trials.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-s2-director-anand-tiwari-exploring-love-triangle-mature-characters-23445826) He also co-wrote the second season and said he wrote it more responsibly once audience data showed him that the viewership was a family audience.[19](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/bandish-bandits-2-director-anand-tiwati-responsibility-ott-2658301-2025-01-02)
**Maja Ma and Bad Newz.** Tiwari directed *Maja Ma* (2022), a family drama starring [Madhuri Dixit](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhuri-dixit) that he describes as socially relevant entertainment, and *Bad Newz* (2024), a comedy drama starring Vicky Kaushal, Ammy Virk and Triptii Dimri, which he also produced.[20](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/anand-tiwari-interview-majama-go-goa-gone-madhuri-dixit-naseeruddin-shah-movies-shows-8820206/) • [1](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anand-tiwari/5943/filmography) As a producer his credits include *Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh* (2025) and streaming projects such as *Kaalkoot* (2023) and *Cadets* (2024).[21](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/anand-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/)
## Approach and current work
Tiwari identifies as a storyteller first. He has said he loves acting but is not drawn to the idle stretches of an actor's life, because an actor is "just a mouthpiece" for the story, while direction puts him at its center; he selects scripts that both entertain and engage him.[20](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/anand-tiwari-interview-majama-go-goa-gone-madhuri-dixit-naseeruddin-shah-movies-shows-8820206/) • [4](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits) In late 2026, a new OTT project of his, headlined by Palak Tiwari and Vishal Jethwa, was reported to be filming, with an official announcement expected the following year.[22](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/palak-tiwari-and-vishal-jethwa-to-headline-anand-tiwaris-next-ott-project-shoot-underway-official-announcement-awaited/articleshow/134792499.cms)
## References
1. [Anand Tiwari – Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/anand-tiwari/5943/filmography)
2. [Anand Tiwari (II), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2945270/)
3. [Anand Tiwari List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anand-tiwari/credits/3030166408/)
4. [From Tata Tea ad Jaago Re to directing Bandish Bandits, Anand Tiwari charts his career development, YourStory](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-director-anand-tiwari-bandish-bandits)
5. [Anand Tiwari, India Web Fest](https://www.indiawebfest.com/speaker/aanad-tiwari)
6. [Bandish Bandits is about art vs exhibitionism: Ritwik Bhowmik, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ritwik-bhowmik-on-bandish-bandits-shreya-chaudhary-amazon-prime-video-6534790/lite/)
7. [Bandish Bandits 2 Trailer: Love, conflict & legacy with Ritwik & Shreya, About Amazon India](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/prime-video-bandish-bandits-season-2-date)
8. [Anand Tiwari: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/anand-tiwari/)
9. [आनंद तिवारी: उम्र, मूवी, जीवनी, Filmibeat Hindi](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/anand-tiwari.html)
10. [Anand Tiwari Video Interview, Amar Ujala](https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/anand-tiwari-video-interview-by-pankaj-shukla-bandish-bandits-raebareli-hindi-classical-music-2024-12-27)
11. [Anand Tiwari: Space is a metaphor in Love Per Square Foot, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/love-per-square-foot-a-space-to-love-5062867/)
12. [Anand Tiwari – Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/amp/person/anand-tiwari/5943)
13. [Huge praise for Bandish Bandits: A chat with director Anand Tiwari, The Telegraph India](https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/entertainment/interview-anand-tiwari-on-huge-praise-for-bandish-bandits/cid/1792077)
14. [Anand Tiwari says Nail Polish will reach a large audience via word of mouth: Interview, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/anand-tiwari-says-nail-polish-will-reach-a-large-audience-via-word-of-mouth-interview-1754838-2020-12-31)
15. [Anand Tiwari: My understanding of direction has increased after Bandish Bandits, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/bandish-bandits-director-anand-tiwari-music-show-casting-6537449/lite/)
16. [A jugalbandi of minds, The Week](https://www.theweek.in/magazine/theweek/leisure/2020/08/20/a-jugalbandi-of-minds.html)
17. [Anand Tiwari: Indian music is as sexy as jazz and hip hop, Mid-Day](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/television-news/article/anand-tiwari-indian-music-is-as-sexy-as-jazz-and-hip-hop-20589184)
18. [Anand Tiwari on exploring love triangle of mature characters in Bandish Bandits S2, Mid-Day](https://mid-day.http.akamai-trials.com/entertainment/web-series/article/bandish-bandits-s2-director-anand-tiwari-exploring-love-triangle-mature-characters-23445826)
19. [Exclusive: Anand Tiwari admits being more responsible during Bandish Bandits 2, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/bandish-bandits-2-director-anand-tiwati-responsibility-ott-2658301-2025-01-02)
20. [My way of taking relevant social topics forward is through entertainment: Anand Tiwari, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/anand-tiwari-interview-majama-go-goa-gone-madhuri-dixit-naseeruddin-shah-movies-shows-8820206/)
21. [Anand Tiwari Movies | New and Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/anand-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html)
22. [Palak Tiwari and Vishal Jethwa to headline Anand Tiwari's next OTT project, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/palak-tiwari-and-vishal-jethwa-to-headline-anand-tiwaris-next-ott-project-shoot-underway-official-announcement-awaited/articleshow/134792499.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 2010s onward › Surnames R to T*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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