From Botany Student to Managing Editor: The Polarizing Career of Anjana Om Kashyap
In short: Anjana Om Kashyap is a prominent Indian television journalist and Managing Editor at Aaj Tak. Her career path, from social work and counseling to the national news desk, has been marked by high-profile awards, intense public controversy, and significant legal challenges regarding her reporting style and editorial choices.
Born in Ranchi to an Indian Army doctor, Kashyap initially pursued botany at the University of Delhi. After failing to pass the All India Pre Medical Test, she shifted her focus toward social work, eventually earning a journalism diploma from Jamia Millia Islamia in the early 2000s. Her early media career included stints at Doordarshan and Zee News, where she transitioned from production roles to anchoring. By 2012, she joined Aaj Tak, where she would later become a central figure in Hindi-language news.
Kashyap’s tenure has been defined by a blend of professional recognition and sharp criticism. She received multiple honors, including the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Anchor in 2014 and 2018. However, her reporting has faced scrutiny from outlets like The Caravan and Scroll.in, which characterize her as an establishment-friendly anchor. Critics argue her coverage of the 2019 Ayodhya title dispute and her interview with Narendra Modi reflected a pro-Hindutva bias. Her aggressive reporting style also led to a complaint from the Indian Medical Association after she confronted a pediatrician inside a neonatal ICU during the 2019 Bihar encephalitis outbreak.
Recent years have seen Kashyap embroiled in legal and social media conflicts. In 2025, she faced complaints regarding her show Black and White and remarks about the sage Valmiki, alongside a widely criticized false report regarding the death of actor Dharmendra. By 2026, a public feud with online educators led to a defamation lawsuit filed by Kashyap and the TV Today Network against several individuals, including Khan Sir. The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim relief in this case in June 2026. These events underscore the intense scrutiny surrounding her role in the evolving landscape of Indian media.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Anjana Om Kashyap
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-anjana-om-kashyap.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Languages · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
