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Anju Modi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthMarch 31, 1954

Age68 (as of 2021)

BirthplaceRanchi, Jharkhand

ProfessionFashion Designer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNaresh Kumar Modi

FamilySon - Ankur Modi; Daughter-in-law - Priyanka Modi

Anju Modi Biography

Anju Modi is an Indian fashion designer known for her work with traditional textiles and costume design for high-profile Indian films. With a career rooted

Early life and background

Anju Modi was born on March 31, 1954, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. She grew up attending Loreto Convent School and later studied at Ranchi Women’s College. Her family background includes her father Atmaram Modi, described as an Upper Bazaar businessman, and she later made New Delhi her hometown.

Career

Anju Modi built a career around an abiding interest in textiles and traditional Indian crafts. Early in her professional journey she lived and worked closely with weavers and craftspeople to learn indigenous techniques firsthand. That hands-on approach took her across many regions of India — from Gujarat’s bandhani and Damdhak prints to Assam’s Muga silks, and to weaving centers in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere — and influenced the fabrics and motifs she favors in her work.

She is recognized for reviving traditional textiles and presenting them in contemporary garments, with a particular reputation for designing lehengas. Modi emphasizes handloom materials such as Chanderi, silk and tussar in most of her creations and has said textile work, not fashion alone, is her forte.

Modi has an established presence in both the fashion and film worlds. She designed costumes for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films Ramleela and Bajirao Mastani, projects that required extensive historical research and sourcing of period textiles. For Ramleela she restored and adapted older lehengas and traveled to learn construction techniques that allowed heavy flares without bulk. For Bajirao Mastani she studied 18th-century Maratha and Persian influences, visiting museums and reading widely to inform the costumes’ shapes, colours and motifs. Her film work also includes designing for the Telugu production Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, where she used regional textiles such as Gadwal and khadi.

Modi’s work has been shown internationally. She took part in events including Heyers Fashion Festival in Paris organized by Paris Fashion Week, Miami Fashion Week, and an India tourism presentation at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. She was invited to present at Handloom Week, an initiative of India’s Ministry of Textiles. Her client base extends to NRI customers in locations such as Dubai, London, California and Singapore.

Awards and recognition

Over the years Modi has earned multiple awards for her costume and fashion work. Notable honours include the PCJ Excellence Award and an ELLE Style Award received in 2012, several awards in 2014 for costume design on Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela, and the Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design in 2016 for Bajirao Mastani. She has also received recognitions from bodies such as the Indian Council for UN Relations and nominations from Marie Claire and the Asian Film Awards.

Public profile

Modi is one of the founding members of the Fashion Design Council of India. She has worked repeatedly with high-profile actors and filmmakers and is frequently praised for her collaborative process; she has spoken about creative exchanges with directors such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the detailed research she undertakes for film costumes.

Her design philosophy centers on reviving traditional craft and making it relevant for contemporary consumers. She has advocated for the use of Khadi and promoted Swadeshi principles in public discussions. Modi also prefers quiet, tactile aesthetics and has said she favours white as a colour that expresses a tranquil, artistic state of mind.

Personal life

Anju Modi is married to Naresh Kumar Modi. The couple’s son, Ankur Modi, and daughter-in-law, Priyanka Modi, are associated with a clothing label called AMPM. Modi endured personal hardship early in her career and has described having to earn a living independently; that period led her deeper into textile study and practice. Outside of design she enjoys nature and photography and makes time for trekking when possible.

Latest updates

In 2021 Modi collaborated with the Indian brand BIBA on an Enchanted Forest festive-season collection. The line included metallic and floral prints, fine hand embroidery and zari work on fabrics such as silk, chanderi and velvet.

Modi has expressed a continuing interest in historical film projects and a desire to work again with filmmakers who allow her to immerse herself in research and craft. She marked 25 years in the industry in 2015 and has continued to champion handloom traditions and artisanal techniques in her ongoing work.
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Recent Work

Enchanted Forest collection (collaboration with BIBA)

Festive-season collection featuring metallic and floral prints, hand embroidery and zari work on silk, chanderi and velvet.

2021
Costume design for Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

Used regional textiles such as Gadwal and khadi from Andhra Pradesh for the Telugu historical film.

Costume design for Bajirao Mastani

Extensive historical research and use of period-inspired textiles to reflect 18th-century Maratha and Persian influences.

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India
  2. Designed costumes for Ramleela and Bajirao Mastani
  3. Won the 2016 Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design for Bajirao Mastani
  4. Multiple awards in 2014 for costume work on Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela
  5. Presented collections internationally including Paris, Miami and Los Angeles
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anju Modi born?

March 31, 1954

What is Anju Modi known for?

Fashion Designer

What is Anju Modi’s marital status?

Married

Who is Anju Modi married to?

Naresh Kumar Modi