Anjula Acharia’s name echoes powerfully in boardrooms, recording studios, red carpets, and tech incubators. Her life and career reflect not just ambition but an unwavering belief in the potential of cross-cultural identity and female empowerment. The Anjula Acharia entrepreneurial journey is a vivid tapestry interwoven with resilience, innovation, and a relentless desire to open doors where walls once stood.
Anjula Acharia: Rooted in Heritage, Soaring Across Continents
Born in the UK to Indian parents from Patiala, Punjab, Anjula Acharia was raised at the intersection of multiple worlds. Her father, Krishen Mohan Acharya, was a scientific photographer whose lens captured the stark realities of British colonial rule. That legacy of truth-telling and cultural pride deeply shaped her worldview.
Anjula once described herself as “made in Britain but living the American dream,” a phrase that captures the essence of her remarkable path. She didn’t just break into industries — she disrupted and redefined them.
DesiHits! – A Revolution Begins
In 2007, Acharia co-founded DesiHits!, a media company that dared to do what few had imagined — introduce global Western pop culture to the Indian market and South Asian artists to the global stage.
Through this platform, she built bridges between continents and cultures, facilitating collaborations with international icons like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and 50 Cent for Indian audiences.
DesiHits! wasn’t just entertainment — it was a cultural statement. It said: South Asian talent deserves to be global. And when Anjula Acharia introduced Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra to America and helped her land a record deal with Beats by Dre founder Jimmy Iovine, it wasn’t just a career breakthrough — it was a movement.
Today, Anjula Acharia remains Chopra’s manager and closest strategic partner, having helped her scale unimaginable heights in Hollywood.
From Desi Beats to Billion-Dollar Dreams
The Anjula Acharia entrepreneurial journey didn’t end with music and media. It expanded boldly into the tech world. As the founder and CEO of A-Series Investments and Management, Anjula has become one of the most influential talent strategists and angel investors in Silicon Valley.
Among her earliest investments were ClassPass and Bumble, two startups that not only scaled to billion-dollar unicorns but redefined how we think about fitness and dating. Her knack for identifying disruptive business ideas is matched only by her ability to connect founders with the resources and storytelling needed to thrive.
Beyond these, Anjula Acharia serves as a trusted advisor to numerous consumer tech and CPG startups, helping founders worldwide scale their impact and identity.
The Hollywood Insider with a Heart
Anjula Acharia’s name is synonymous with star-studded deals. Whether it’s orchestrating campaigns with GUESS, NFL, Disney, or BeatsByDre, she brings authenticity and ambition to every partnership. Her work is not just about visibility, but about impact.
In recognition of her influence, she was named to Billboard’s ‘Top 40 Women in Music,’ their ‘International Power Players’ list, ELLE’s ‘Top Women in Tech,’ Vanity Fair’s ‘New Establishment,’ and NY Enterprise Report’s ‘Game Changers.’ Her story has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, and Variety.
Anjula Acharia: Buckingham Palace to BuzzFeed Boardrooms
In 2021, Anjula was invited to join BuzzFeed’s board of directors — a move that reflects her unmatched ability to blend digital relevance with human storytelling.
And in one of her proudest moments, she returned “home” to Buckingham Palace, invited by King Charles for a Humanitarian Reception honouring the British Asian Trust. The Trust works on critical issues such as child trafficking and labour in India and Pakistan — causes close to Anjula’s heart. In her words, “The King’s passion for these causes was both evident and inspiring…representation isn’t a favour — it’s a force.”
Launching 5 Junction: A New Cultural Anthem
Anjula’s latest venture is her most ambitious yet — 5 Junction, a joint label in collaboration with Warner Music Group aimed at breaking South Asian American artists into Western markets. 5 Junction will amplify South Asian voices, not as trends but as truths.
Partnering with Toronto-based 91 North Records and Warner Music India, 5 Junction is strategically positioned to become the cultural heartbeat between South Asia and North America. Anjula envisions it as a vibrant platform for artists whose voices have been long overdue on global stages.
“South Asian music has the scale, the diaspora, and the irresistible rhythm to thrive in the U.S. – what it needs now is amplification,” said Warner Records’ leadership. And no one understands amplification like Anjula Acharia.
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