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Manish Makhija Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

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

Quick Info

Date of birth7 October 1968

Age56 Years

BirthplaceDelhi, India

ProfessionVideo Jockey, Restaurateur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseNeha Gupta; Pooja Bhatt

FamilySon from first marriage; brother Anand Makhija; niece Masumeh Makhija

Manish Makhija Biography

Manish Makhija is an Indian video jockey, restaurateur and occasional actor known for TV shows such as The Udham Singh Show and Cash Cab – Meter Chalu Hai.

Early life and background

Manish Makhija was born on 7 October 1968 in Delhi, India. Raised in a family whose parents worked in the Indian Postal Service, he attended Kirori Mal College where he completed a BA in Political Science and later enrolled in an LLB program at Delhi University, which he did not complete. Known also by the names Munish Makhija and by the nickname Munna, he stands about 173 cm (5'8") tall and has brown eyes.

Career

Makhija first came to public attention as a video jockey. He became widely known for hosting the Hindi television program The Udham Singh Show in 1997 and later for appearing on Cash Cab – Meter Chalu Hai in 2008. His on-screen persona led to work in commercials for brands including Britannia Checkers and Limca.

He expanded into film work with appearances in Paap (2003), Rog (2005), Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012) and Mastizaade (2016). In addition to acting, he worked behind the camera as an assistant director on Rog in 2005. Makhija also explored songwriting and music composition: he received a nomination in 2012 as an upcoming lyricist for the song “Abhi Abhi” from Jism 2 and later composed music for the film Cabaret in 2019.

Beyond media, Makhija developed a footprint in hospitality and entrepreneurship. While active as a VJ he opened a lounge bar called The Other Side at Morgem Beach in Goa. He later started several companies, including Ab-Markosys Private Limited, Moist Destinations Private Limited, and Greenapp Enterprises Private Limited. He founded a training center called Bark Beat focused on high-intensity instinct development games and serves there as a trainer.

Recognition

Early in his career he received a Special Award at the Screen Awards in 1998. His varied creative roles across television, film and music reflect a career that shifted between on-screen and behind-the-scenes work as well as entrepreneurship.

Public profile

Makhija’s personal life has been public at times because of his marriage to actress and producer Pooja Bhatt. The two met while working on the film Paap in 2003, began a relationship and married a month later. The marriage lasted nearly eleven years and ended in divorce; the separation was described publicly as amicable.

He is a father and has a son from his first marriage to Neha Gupta. His family connections include a brother, Anand Makhija, and a niece, Masumeh Makhija, who is an actor.

Makhija’s public image has included candid habits and personal details shared in media coverage; he has been photographed smoking at events and has described a career path that included many different jobs over time.

Latest updates

In addition to his earlier television and film roles, Makhija continued to try different creative avenues into the 2010s, including lyric writing for Jism 2 and composing for Cabaret. He has maintained involvement in his hospitality ventures and training activities through Bark Beat and his various companies.

Overall, Manish Makhija’s career spans VJing, acting, behind-the-camera film work, songwriting, music composition and entrepreneurship, with a public profile shaped by both his professional projects and his marriage to a prominent film industry figure.
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Recent Work

Music composition for Cabaret

Composed music for the film Cabaret.

2019
Lyricist nomination for Jism 2

Nominated for Upcoming Lyricist of the Year for the song “Abhi Abhi” from Jism 2.

2012
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Career Highlights

  1. Host of The Udham Singh Show (1997) and Cash Cab – Meter Chalu Hai (2008)
  2. Special Award, Screen Awards (1998)
  3. Acted in films including Paap (2003), Rog (2005), Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012) and Mastizaade (2016)
  4. Assistant director on Rog (2005)
  5. Composed music for Cabaret (2019); nominated as Upcoming Lyricist of the Year for Jism 2 (2012)
  6. Founded The Other Side at Morgem Beach and several companies; started training centre Bark Beat
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manish Makhija born?

7 October 1968

What is Manish Makhija known for?

Video Jockey, Restaurateur

What is Manish Makhija’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Manish Makhija married to?

Neha Gupta; Pooja Bhatt