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Maleesha Kharwa Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth13 January 2008

Age15 Years (as of 2023)

ProfessionModel, Social media influencer

NationalityIndian

FamilyFather - Mukesh Kharwa; Brother - Sahil Kharwa

Maleesha Kharwa Biography

Maleesha Kharwa is an Indian model and social media personality from Mumbai who rose to wider recognition after being discovered during the pandemic. She’s

Early life and background

Maleesha Kharwa was born on 13 January 2008 and grew up in a Bandra slum in Mumbai. She has described life there as challenging, particularly during the monsoon season when makeshift roofs and tarps struggle against heavy rains and wind. Her father is Mukesh Kharwa and she has a younger brother named Sahil. Maleesha attended a government-run school in Mumbai and, as of 2023, was studying in the tenth standard. Education is important to her; she has said good grades make her father happy and that she would prioritize schooling even as she pursues a career in the arts.

Career

Maleesha set her sights on modeling and dancing from a very young age. A local photographer, Gopal Kawde, arranged her first photo shoot with permission from her father and manager. Her public profile grew substantially after she met American actor Robert Hoffman in 2020, when he was in India filming a music video. Hoffman began sharing images and videos of Maleesha online and later set up a GoFundMe campaign to support her needs, describing the family’s living conditions and seeking assistance for her education and basic necessities.

Beginning her modeling career at around age 12, Maleesha started appearing in print advertisements and television commercials. The income she began earning allowed her family to move out of the slum into a 1BHK in Bandra. She has been sponsored for dance lessons by The Danceworx Performing Arts Academy, Bandra Studio, and has been offered roles in two Hollywood films, according to available information.

In 2021 Maleesha appeared in a short film titled Live Your Fairytale, directed by Arsala Qureishi and Jas Sagu, which followed the first-time restaurant experience of five youngsters from slum backgrounds, including her. She has also been featured in publications such as The Peacock Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and Grazia.

Public profile

Maleesha’s social media presence has grown quickly; by May 2023 she had more than 245,000 followers on Instagram. She is known for her interest in fashion, performing arts, and makeup. Publicly she has cited Priyanka Chopra as an inspiration and has spoken about admiring dancer Nora Fatehi.

In 2023 Maleesha was selected as the face of a campaign called The Yuvati Selection for the high-end cosmetics brand Forest Essentials. The campaign highlighted the brand’s intention to support young dreams and contribute a portion of proceeds to Project Paathshala, an initiative aimed at providing educational access for children from underprivileged backgrounds.

Personal and public life

Maleesha speaks both the local Mumbai slang and English, and she has emphasized the importance of education alongside her creative ambitions. She enjoys dancing and getting her makeup done, and lists English as a favored subject in school. Her early life experiences and rapid shift into modeling drew considerable media attention when her story spread online, and various individuals and organizations have contributed to funding her education and basic needs. Robert Hoffman has been identified as one of those assisting with her education.

Latest updates

By 2023 Maleesha had begun to purchase items for herself as her career progressed; she shared with followers that she bought a new mobile phone with her own money. In the same year she starred in Forest Essentials’ Yuvati Selection campaign and continued to appear in commercial and editorial work.

Maleesha’s journey from a childhood in a Bandra shelter to modelling for notable brands and appearing in mainstream publications has been framed publicly as a story about pursuing dreams while maintaining a commitment to education and family.
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Recent Work

Live Your Fairytale

Short film about five slum youngsters' first-time restaurant experience; Maleesha was one of the featured youngsters.

2021
The Yuvati Selection

Ad campaign for Forest Essentials in which Maleesha was featured as the face of the collection.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Discovered by actor Robert Hoffman in 2020, who helped share her work and set up fundraising support.
  2. Started modelling around age 12 and moved with her family to a 1BHK in Bandra after beginning to earn from work.
  3. Featured in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Grazia and The Peacock Magazine.
  4. Face of Forest Essentials' The Yuvati Selection campaign in 2023.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Maleesha Kharwa born?

13 January 2008

What is Maleesha Kharwa known for?

Model, Social media influencer