Anju Desai

Life in Creations

Exploring the Creative World of Anju Desai

From the vibrant streets of India to the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, Anju Desai’s life has been a whirlwind of art, culture, and entrepreneurship. Anju’s inspirational journey shows the power of passion, determination, and embracing change.

*The Early Years* 

From the tender age of 4, Anju took her first steps onto the stage, where she discovered her love for dance, acting, and singing. With ongoing, loving support from her family, she performed at various festivals and school gatherings in India. She also showcased her flair for art, winning numerous awards at school and even hosting several paintings exhibitions as a young artist.

*A Naturel Artist and Performer*

As a teenager, she ventured into Marathi theatre, where her passion for stage performances was appreciated and rewarded. Anju’s vocal talents also found expression as she worked as an orchestra singer, choosing a style of 1960 Hindi songs. A local radio station became her first employer at age 14. 

*Advocate for Women’s Empowerment*

Anju’s passion for women’s freedom and safety led her to become a guest speaker at the age of 18. She organised a women-led expo. A platform for crafters and creators in her community. Her commitment to empowering women has been a driving force throughout her life.

*From Motherhood to Businesshood at 18*

Anju’s entrepreneurial spirit awakens at a young age. At just 18, while being a dedicated mother, she started her own business, Nikhil Creations, specialising in printing and graphic design. This venture began with no initial investment. Within a mere six months, Anju’s business had expanded to employ eight individuals and continued to thrive for the next ten years.

*Landed in the county of long white clouds*

Anju’s life journey took an exceptional turn when she arrived in New Zealand 22 years ago. Her creative spirit was enlightened with natural beauty, and she found warmth in the hearts of the humble Kiwi people. Her talents got the attention as she connected with the locals. The Kiwi community embraced her with open arms, offering abundant opportunities for diverse activities, from painting classes to cooking demonstrations and holistic wellness workshops. Anju soon became a guest speaker at various events, sharing insights on life, journey, inspiration, creativity, and the philosophy of living.

*Bringing Bollywood to New Zealand*

With a deep desire to share the joy of Bollywood and Indian culture with the nurturing land of New Zealand, she founded “Bollywood Party in New Zealand” in 2009 with a sweet accident. Here is the story of how the Bollywood party began. Her flair for event planning, coupled with her artistic expertise, has allowed her to create unforgettable experiences for both corporate and private functions.

*Surprising and Fulfilling Recognitions*

Anju was featured in an editorial in “NZ Herald”, while local papers praised her art exhibitions. Also, her remarkable story was featured in an article in New Zealand Geographic, highlighting her ways of binding both cultures together. 

Anju’s artistic journey continued to thrive as she made appearances on various television networks, including TVNZ, Maori TV, Te Reo channel, and a TV 2 show called ‘What Now?”, where she was interviewed and showcased her business. Her talent for captivating audiences through her performances and professionalism, along with her knack for making audiences feel at ease, made her a highly recommended presenter.

By 2010, Anju was traveling extensively throughout the country to host Bollywood parties. In 2019, she achieved another significant milestone by organising an international event for the Hewlett-Packard (HP) product launch in Queenstown.

*Bollywood Costume Hire: A Dream Come True*

Anju’s dream of Bollywood costume hire has become a reality, offering Kiwis the chance to step into the vibrant world of Bollywood stars. The costumes have won international and national awards and countless clients. Explore the colourful selection at www.bollywoodcostumehire.co.nz and get ready to shine like a star.

*Anju’s Culinary Expertise*

Anju’s culinary journey began at the age of 10 when her mother gave her the responsibility of understanding, cooking, and exploring traditional recipes. Her fascination with spices, health, and well-being became an integral part of her lifestyle. Growing up around her uncle’s Ayurvedic pharmacy in India deepened her knowledge and gave her a profound understanding of the benefits of spices, Ayurveda, and holistic living.

Today, Anju brings her wealth of expertise to her cooking demonstrations, classes, and speeches. Her friendly demeanor, knowledge, and storytelling skills have made her an inspirational speaker at various events. Discover the world of spices and wellness with Anju.

*A Passion for Marketing*

With skills as a graphic and web designer, Anju’s passion for marketing has always been noticeable. She began her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 18. Her experience in marketing has played a crucial role in developing her event business and other creative ventures. During the pandemic, she restarted her journey with a new company called “Creative Marketing Solutions” to help support local businesses   

*Inspiration and Encouragement*

Anju’s inspiring journey from a small town in India to becoming a successful business owner in New Zealand serves as a hope for others. Her mantra of “no complaints, no blaming, no judgment” has not only guided her through life’s challenges but also given her the focus she needed to pursue her dreams.

*A Message of Resilience*

Anju’s life story shows resilience and adaptability. Her experiences remind us that life’s unexpected twists can lead to extraordinary adventures.

In her own words, “A smile, warmth, and kindness do not cost us anything. If you wish to enjoy what you do in life, then everything will come together. Take that step forward and have faith.”

Let Anju’s story inspire you to chase your dreams and create a future filled with passion and purpose.

Talk to Anju today!!!

A journey in Creation...

Early Achievements


A performer: Anju’s journey in the world of performance began at the age of 4 when she took the stage to perform Bollywood dance. Her talent gained numerous awards and recognitions since. 

School Artistic Journey: From age 11, Anju was a part of art competitions all around the state, earning multiple awards and shields. She organised school activity days and frequently took the stage, either as a singer or dancer. Her performances included singing the national anthem and patriotic songs in front of large audiences on India’s Independence Day.

Acting with Theatre Group ‘Pancham’: At age 14, Anju was founded by a local theatre group called ‘Pancham’ where her acting ability had a chance to thrive for 5 years. She won several acting awards, including two at state competitions for comedy and an award for women’s empowering short plays.

Musical Journey: Anju’s singing journey began during her school days and continued with Pancham’s musical orchestra. Her singing talent got her on the local radio station and she started hosting radio shows at age 16.

Modeling and Commercials: Between the ages of 17 and 18, Anju was offered modeling and singing jobs for advertisements for radio and TV commercials.

Entrepreneurship: In 1992, after completing her art studies, Anju founded “Nikhil Creation,” a printing and design business that served thousands of customers. Alongside she organised large-scale art, and design markets, as well as craft, shows to empower women. She was a guest speaker for the Women Trust in India at just 19 years old.

Exhibitions: Anju’s passion for art was evident from her school days, where she regularly presented art exhibitions. Notable exhibitions include a 1991  collaborative exhibition, a 1992 and 1994 solo exhibition, where all paintings were sold out,  and various successful exhibitions in New Zealand from 2006 to 2012.

Art Classes: Anju began teaching art at a young age when parents requested art classes for their children. She also taught various classes, including fabric painting, craft, print-making, and painting. This continued until 2001. In New Zealand, she started art classes in 2003. Auckland opened up new doors to community classes. Teaching in different locations gained her vast experience and clientele until 2009.  

Raindrop Art Studio:  There were changes in community classes that led her to open her own art studio. Here, she continued teaching classes, presenting exhibitions, and working on commission jobs until her Bollywood Party business took off in 2009. 

Step Forward in New Zealand


Bollywood Party and Bollywood Costume Hire: Established on 5 July 2009. Read more about our story.

TV Shows: Featured on TV1, TV3, and Māori TV to showcase her culture, business, and love for New Zealand.

Media Recognitions: For her art exhibitions in 2012 in local newspapers, about dancing in the New Zealand Herald, and the New Zealand Geographical magazine article.

Guest Speaker: Delivered speeches on various topics, including her life journey, Indian spices, Ayurvedic medicine, Hindu symbols, goal achievement, and livelihood creation. Presented her story at the HER Festival in 2023.

Creative Soul: Launched in 2019, selling Indian silk, art, jewelry, and clothing online and in-person. A new website about Anju’s art, “Creative Soul by Anju,” is coming soon.

Creative Marketing Solutions: During COVID-19 in 2020, she utilised her graphic design, and branding expertise to help businesses with branding, social media, and goal planning. She still works as a business mentor on request.

World Of Culture NZ: In 2022, organised online interviews featuring 10 women who have made a difference. In 2023, hosted a full-day workshop from teachers from different ethnicity. Authentic Indian food stalls, Indian cooking demonstrations, and interactive healing species workshops.

Diwali: Anju’s studio students performed at the city’s Diwali celebrations from 2014 to 2019. Provided lavish costumes and jewelry to students from the Bollywood costume hire studio.

Corporate Diwali: Hosted Diwali events for companies like Spark NZ, AUT, and more, including speeches, dance performances, Diwali catering, workshops, and extravagant Diwali decor.

Community Diwali: Actively involved in Diwali celebrations for schools, retirement villages, and libraries offering various activities.

City Council Diwali: In 2022, represented Diwali with Auckland Council, organising a Bollywood party with Shortland Street stars, followed by a “Taste of India” a grand successful event.

Corporate Bollywood Party: Started in 2009, with notable events like the Instant Finance Award Show in 2012 and a grand Bollywood party for Cyclone Wellington/Auckland in 2022.

Award Show: Established company awards shows from 2011 to 2021 to appreciate her team, including a kindness award in her father’s name, where she rewarded them with a memorable night. 

Continuing the Journey…

 

Motherhood

A beautiful beginning of a forever bond, nurturing love, and endless joy.

An Artist at Heart

Lake Tekapo - Art gear in the backpack to recreate this heavenly beauty.

Passion for Dance

Photo for the article in NZ Geographic Magazine. Music and dance in the blood.

Landed in Aotearoa

Those blues and greens of the long white cloud country took Anju's breath away.

Bollywood Party was born!

A glamorous turn in life with Bollywood Party in NZ, established in 2009.

Love for culture

Events, parties, culinary exploration, love for culture, and people of New Zealand.

Marketing Guru

Helping the community to achieve their dream jobs. Mentoring with a touch of creativity.

Travel in mind!

Exploring the land, connecting with people, and admiring with an abundance of gratitude.

Inspiring Story!

Inspiring women to live life fully and take a leap of faith. Life as we create it.

About Us

Bringing Bollywood Experiences to your Doorstep

Experience being in India for the day with our Bollywood party in New Zealand. We have proudly shared the lively and joyful Indian culture with Kiwis since 2009. Under the visionary leadership of Creative Director Anju Desai, our team specialises in crafting tailor-made events blending tradition, vibrancy, and modern flair. From your party invite and costume hire, delicious food, photo booth, and entertainment to the souvenirs, we have all of it covered. Join us in the vibrant spirit of Bollywood and create enchanting moments. Get to know us… 

Questions?

Whether you have questions about our services, want to know more, or need assistance with anything, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!