Anushka Manchanda is an Indian singer, songwriter, performer and actress, best known for her work in Hindi film playback singing and as a member of the early 2000s Indian girl group Viva. In later years she has performed and recorded electronic and independent music under the stage name NUKA.
| Name | Anushka Manchanda |
|---|---|
| Also known as | NUKA |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Genres | Hindi film playback, pop, electronic |
| Notable group | Viva (Indian girl group) |
Manchanda rose to public attention through the television talent contest Coke [V] Popstars, which was broadcast on Channel V in India in the early 2000s. The show was designed to assemble an all-female pop group, and the five winners formed Viva, one of the first manufactured girl groups in the Indian pop industry.
As a member of Viva, Manchanda was part of the group's self-titled debut album released in the early 2000s. The group released Hindi pop songs that received significant airplay on Indian music television channels before disbanding within a few years of their formation.
Following the disbandment of Viva, Manchanda established a career as a playback singer in Hindi cinema. She has lent her voice to songs across a range of Bollywood films, often associated with upbeat, contemporary pop and dance tracks. Her playback work has appeared alongside compositions by leading Hindi film music directors of the 2000s and 2010s.
In later years, Manchanda began releasing independent music under the moniker NUKA, working in electronic and alternative pop styles. Through this project she has explored songwriting, production and visual presentation outside the conventions of the mainstream film industry.
Alongside her music work, Manchanda has appeared in Hindi feature films and on Indian television, taking on supporting and ensemble roles. She has also been featured as a performer and judge on music-related television formats.
Manchanda's career reflects the trajectory of Indian pop music since the early 2000s: the rise of televised talent shows and manufactured groups, the dominance of Bollywood playback work as a sustainable singing career, and the more recent shift of established artists towards independent and digital-first releases. Her transition from a Viva member to a solo playback singer and then to an independent electronic artist as NUKA illustrates these wider industry changes.