Ankush Bhardwaj is a singer from Himachal Pradesh who finished as the first runner-up of Indian Idol 10 in December 2018, behind winner Salman Ali. Since then he has sung a Sony TV title track and helped head a team in the Indian Pro Music League, and in October 2026 he went back to the Indian Idol stage for Indian Idol Legends Return, the franchise’s seventeenth season, where he sings as a duo with Indian Idol 12’s Sireesha Bhagavatula. His surname is spelt both Bhardwaj and Bharadwaj in the press.
| Ankush Bhardwaj — Quick Biography & Personal Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ankush Bhardwaj |
| Other Spelling | Ankush Bharadwaj |
| Profession | Singer |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly known |
| Age | Not publicly known |
| Home State | Himachal Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Indian Idol 10 (2018) | First runner-up; prize cheque of Rs 5 lakh |
| TV Title Track | Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein (Sony TV, 2019) |
| Now Competing In | Indian Idol Legends Return (season 17), paired with Sireesha Bhagavatula |
Ankush Bhardwaj on stage at a gig, April 2025.
Image: Ankush Bhardwaj / Instagram (@ankush_bhardwaj00007)
Early Life and Background
When Sony Entertainment Television introduced its Top 14 for Indian Idol 10 ahead of the grand premiere, it presented Ankush as a “multi-talented” singer from Himachal Pradesh, according to the channel’s line-up as published by IBTimes. Beyond his home state, mainstream newspapers have not reported his date of birth, his exact hometown, his schooling or his family. Several profile and fan sites carry such details, but none cites a reliable source, so we have left them out. We will add them if a trustworthy outlet or Ankush himself confirms them.
Indian Idol 10 Journey (2018)
The tenth season opened with a two-night grand premiere on 28 and 29 July 2018 on Sony Entertainment Television, with Neha Kakkar, Vishal Dadlani and Javed Ali on the judges’ panel. Ankush was part of the Top 14 from the start.
Praise from Anil Kapoor and a dance with Aishwarya Rai
Early in the season he earned one of its most quoted compliments. After he performed “Tumse Milke”, guest Anil Kapoor called him the Kishore Kumar of this generation, Filmibeat reported on 4 August 2018. The actor added that Ankush could act as well as sing, and said he would like to see him in a remake of his film Parinda. In the same report, a source from the sets told Mid Day that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan came on stage to dance with Ankush on the title track of Mohabbatein, ticking off an item on his bucket list.
Finale: first runner-up
Five singers reached the grand finale: Salman Ali, Ankush Bhardwaj, Neelanjana Ray, Nitin Kumar and Vibhor Parashar. On finale night the top five also sang some of Shah Rukh Khan’s hit songs. Salman Ali of Haryana took the title, as the news agency IANS reported in a story carried by Gulf News on 24 December 2018. Ankush was named first runner-up and, according to the IANS report published by The Assam Tribune, received a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, the same amount as second runner-up Neelanjana Ray. Salman won Rs 25 lakh and a car, while Nitin Kumar and Vibhor Parashar received Rs 3 lakh each.
| Indian Idol 10 finalist | Result | Prize (IANS) |
|---|---|---|
| Salman Ali | Winner | Rs 25 lakh and a car |
| Ankush Bhardwaj | First runner-up | Rs 5 lakh |
| Neelanjana Ray | Second runner-up | Rs 5 lakh |
| Nitin Kumar | Finalist | Rs 3 lakh |
| Vibhor Parashar | Finalist | Rs 3 lakh |
Career After Indian Idol
Title track for Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein (2019)
In July 2019 Ankush sang the title track of Sony TV’s drama Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein, a love story whose lead, Yogi, is a hearing-impaired young man played by Mudit Nayar. Sony TV promoted his romantic number for the show, “Ek Chup Tum”, on its own social media. Speaking to IANS in a story carried by Darpan Magazine on 16 July 2019, he said he was “elated to get the opportunity to sing the title track” once he heard the show’s concept, and that he felt “fortunate to have lent my voice to the show”.
Indian Pro Music League (2021)
In early 2021 he was announced as one of the three names heading a team in the Indian Pro Music League. The Tribune reported on 9 February 2021 that he would front the Delhi Jammers alongside singer Neha Bhasin, the team’s captain, and composer Sajid Khan, with actress Shraddha Kapoor, her father Shakti Kapoor and brother Siddhanth Kapoor backing the side.
Indian Idol Legends Return (2026)
For its seventeenth season, Indian Idol brought back singers from its earlier editions. Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV called up 24 past participants and split them into 12 duos, with Himesh Reshammiya as Superstar Judge and Aditya Narayan as host, medianews4u reported. A new twist lets the singers assess one another’s performances on top of the judge’s verdict. The season started on 17 October 2026 and airs at 8 PM every Saturday and Sunday.
In the line-up announced by the channel and listed by Indian Broadcasting World, Ankush is paired with Sireesha Bhagavatula, who competed on Indian Idol 12. The two belong to different generations of the show: he reached the final of season 10, while she left season 12 in eleventh place, according to the franchise’s Wikipedia record. For the full list of pairs, see our Indian Idol 17 (Legends Return) contestants list.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Anil Kapoor’s “Kishore Kumar of this generation” line came after Ankush sang “Tumse Milke” on Indian Idol 10 in 2018.
- His Indian Idol 10 prize matched that of second runner-up Neelanjana Ray: both took home Rs 5 lakh.
- He is one of two Indian Idol 10 finalists in Legends Return: the season 10 winner, Salman Ali, is back too, paired with Mohammad Danish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Ankush Bhardwaj?
He is a singer from Himachal Pradesh who was the first runner-up of Indian Idol 10 in 2018 and is now competing in Indian Idol Legends Return (season 17).
Did Ankush Bhardwaj win Indian Idol?
No. Salman Ali won Indian Idol 10, and Ankush finished second as the first runner-up, taking home Rs 5 lakh.
Who is Ankush Bhardwaj’s partner in Indian Idol Legends Return?
He sings as a duo with Sireesha Bhagavatula, a former Indian Idol 12 contestant.
Where is Ankush Bhardwaj from?
Himachal Pradesh. Sony introduced him as a singer from the state when it announced the Indian Idol 10 Top 14.
What is Ankush Bhardwaj’s age?
His date of birth has not been published by a reliable source, so his age is not publicly known.
Which TV title track did Ankush Bhardwaj sing?
He sang the title track of Sony TV’s 2019 show Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein, and Sony TV promoted his song “Ek Chup Tum” from the show.
Related Biographies
- Sireesha Bhagavatula, his Legends Return partner
- Salman Ali, the Indian Idol 10 winner
- Indian Idol 17 (Legends Return) contestants list
