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Acharya Pratishtha Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 3, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 December

BirthplaceSaharanpur, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionYoga Guru, Kathak Dancer, Author, Ex-Diplomat

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseDheeraj Saraswat

FamilyFather - Pandit Bharat Bhushan; Daughter - Devi Pratyakshaa Sharma; Brother - Divy Nidhi Sharma; Grandfather - Pandit Bishambar Singh

Acharya Pratishtha Biography

Acharya Pratishtha is an Indian Kathak dancer, yoga teacher, author and former diplomat known for promoting Indian classical arts and yoga nationally and海外

Early life and background
Acharya Pratishtha, full name Acharyaa Pratishtha Sharma, was born in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. She grew up in a family steeped in classical and spiritual traditions—her father is Pandit Bharat Bhushan, a Padma Shri–honoured yoga teacher, and her grandfather, Pandit Bishambar Singh, was an educationist who received national recognition. She began learning Kathak at the age of three and practised yoga from childhood under her father’s guidance.

She attended a convent school before pursuing higher education. Her formal training includes studies at Delhi University, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (Khairagarh), Kathak Kendra (New Delhi), Bhatkhande Music Institute (Lucknow) and credentials from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad. Her academic qualifications include a BA (Honours) in English, yoga and Kathak, an MA, a diploma in Kathak, and the Visharad and Prabhakar certifications in music.

Career
Acharya Pratishtha’s career spans dance, yoga, writing and cultural diplomacy. Trained in Kathak under noted gurus such as Rajendra Gangani (Jaipur gharana), Jaikishan Maharaj, Geetanjali Lal and Aditi Mangaldas, she won a gold medal during her National Institute of Kathak training and received scholarships, including a national scholarship from the Ministry of Culture. She founded the Mokshayatan Dance Foundation in 2001 to support emerging Kathak artists and is the founder-principal of Bharat College of Performing Arts in Saharanpur, an institute for classical dance, music and yoga.

At the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of External Affairs, she served as a designated guru and performer at Indian cultural centres in Johannesburg and Jakarta, helping to promote Kathak internationally. Her work has included television performances and cultural programming; her Kathak presentations were broadcast on Doordarshan, and a dance show she led, Nritya Naad, was aired on Zee network channels.

Parallel to her dance career, Acharya Pratishtha developed a strong profile in yoga. She trained for several years under yoga guru Shankar Apte and began working as a yoga consultant at the age of 20. In 2007 she was introduced on national platforms as a young Yogacharyaa and mind therapist. She has led yoga camps and initiatives for police forces, students and corporate groups across India and internationally, including programs in Japan, South Africa, Mauritius and China. She has served as yoga consultant at Amatrra Health Spa, Ashoka Hotel and Mokshayatan International, and created yoga programming that aired on channels such as Zee Jagran, ETV, India TV, Total TV and Doordarshan.

Her collaborations with government bodies include yoga presentations made for the Ministry of Health and participation in a Ministry of Tourism promotional film. Recognitions for her contributions run across cultural and wellness spheres: she has been honoured with titles and awards from a range of organisations and media outlets, and received institutional scholarships and prizes during her training.

Publications and media
Acharya Pratishtha is also an author. Her first book, titled Diabetes, Why Die–a-bit-ease?, was published when she was 25. Subsequent works include Essential Elements of Kathak, published by the Embassy of India in Jakarta in 2014 in partnership with the ICCR, and a book on yoga released in 2016 by the Minister of AYUSH, Shripad Naik. She has contributed articles to magazines, including Sakhi (Jagran Group) and Tathastu (USA), and has been featured in books, CDs and media coverage focused on Indian culture and the performing arts.

Public profile
Her public roles have included work as a cultural diplomat and performer at Indian cultural centres abroad, judge at international pageants, and participation in cultural-support initiatives such as SPIC MACAY and IRCEN. Institutions and organisations have recognised her contributions with honours that reference both her Kathak and yoga work. She maintains a visible presence on social platforms under the name Acharyapratishthaji.

Personal life
Acharya Pratishtha is married to Dheeraj Saraswat and they have a daughter, Devi Pratyakshaa Sharma. She has an elder brother, Divy Nidhi Sharma. Her personal practices and public work reflect a devotional inclination; she is known to have a strong faith in Krishna and an affinity for animal welfare.

Latest updates
She continues to be active as a teacher, performer and promoter of Kathak and yoga through her institutions and international cultural engagements. Recent published works and televised programming are part of her ongoing efforts to spread classical dance and holistic wellness.
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Recent Work

Essential Elements of Kathak

Book published by the Embassy of India, Jakarta and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations

2014
Yoga for Healthy Life (title variant)

Book on yoga released by the Minister of AYUSH, Shripad Naik

2016
DIABETES, WHY Die–a-bit-ease?

First book published at age 25

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Career Highlights

  1. Founded Mokshayatan Dance Foundation (2001)
  2. Founder-principal of Bharat College of Performing Arts, Saharanpur
  3. Selected by ICCR/Ministry of External Affairs to promote Kathak in Johannesburg and Jakarta
  4. Youngest Yogacharyaa & Mind Therapist launch by Zee Network and World Yoga Organisation (2007)
  5. Multiple honours and scholarships from cultural and media institutions
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Acharya Pratishtha born?

1 December

What is Acharya Pratishtha known for?

Yoga Guru, Kathak Dancer, Author, Ex-Diplomat

What is Acharya Pratishtha’s marital status?

Married

Who is Acharya Pratishtha married to?

Dheeraj Saraswat