Anshu Asthana: The Life and Legacy of Anushka Asthana’s Brother

Anshu Asthana is remembered as the brother of British journalist Anushka Asthana, but the story of his life extends beyond his connection to a well-known television correspondent. He was a highly intelligent and creative individual whose interests included music, art and helping people recognise their potential. His experiences with bipolar disorder and the difficulties surrounding his diagnosis also became an important part of his family’s story.

Although Anshu did not have a widely documented public career, his sister has shared personal memories of him through her journalism. A memorial fund established in his name also reflects his interest in supporting creative opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. Together, these accounts offer a glimpse into the person behind the name.

Quick Biography

Who Was Anshu Asthana?

Anshu Asthana was the brother of Anushka Asthana, a British political journalist who has worked for organisations including The Guardian, ITV News and Channel 4 News.

His name became more widely known through his sister’s personal accounts of their family experiences with bipolar disorder. In an article published by ITV News on 15 May 2024, Anushka discussed the challenges her brother faced before receiving a diagnosis and the lasting effect his illness had on their family.

She described him as exceptionally intelligent and one of the most creative people she had known. Her recollections also highlighted his abilities as a musician and artist, alongside his capacity to build close and meaningful friendships.

A later feature in Runner’s World UK, published in May 2025, identified him by his full name and explained how Anushka was honouring his memory through fundraising for Bipolar UK.

Education and Academic Abilities

One of the most striking details about Anshu’s life comes from his sister’s description of his academic ability.

In her ITV News article, Anushka recalled that he had an IQ of 174 and was regarded by others as exceptionally intelligent. She also confirmed that he won a place at Cambridge University.

His academic potential was clearly an important part of how she remembered him. However, publicly available sources do not establish his intended subject, the Cambridge college involved or whether he ultimately graduated.

It is therefore more accurate to describe him as someone who secured a place at Cambridge rather than as a Cambridge graduate.

His Creative Interests and Personality

Anshu’s creative interests form another important part of his story.

Anushka remembered him as a talented artist and musician. She also described him as a particularly generous friend, recalling the warmth and affection he brought into his relationships.

These recollections are supported by the Anshu Asthana Memorial Fund, which describes his passion for helping homeless individuals recognise and develop their creative skills.

The memorial project explains that he believed people living on the streets and in squats possessed considerable artistic potential that was often overlooked. His interest was in creating opportunities for those abilities to be recognised and shared.

The fund also refers to some of his artwork, offering a further connection between his creative interests and the legacy established in his name.

His Experience With Bipolar Disorder

Anshu’s experience with bipolar disorder is one of the most significant aspects of his publicly documented life.

In her May 2024 ITV News article, Anushka explained that her brother had the condition and that the family experienced considerable difficulties in understanding and responding to its effects.

She reflected on how mental illness could bring periods of emotional pain, confusion and helplessness, affecting not only the person experiencing it but also those closest to them.

Anushka also discussed the family’s attempts to obtain appropriate treatment. Despite having parents with medical backgrounds who understood how to seek healthcare, her brother’s diagnosis and access to suitable treatment were delayed.

In Runner’s World UK in May 2025, she provided a further detail, explaining that he was not diagnosed until his 30s.

His experience became an important reason behind her interest in improving awareness of bipolar disorder and encouraging earlier diagnosis.

Anshu Asthana’s Death

Anshu Asthana died aged 37.

His sister confirmed his age at death in her 2024 ITV News account. The GlobalGiving page for the Anshu Asthana Memorial Fund records his date of death as 13 November 2012.

In her ITV article, Anushka explained that he eventually died from a physical, lung-related disease. She also expressed the family’s belief that risks associated with his bipolar disorder contributed to the circumstances in which he became ill.

It is important to distinguish this account from claims that he died directly from bipolar disorder. Anushka specifically described a physical illness rather than identifying his mental health condition as the immediate cause of death.

The detailed medical circumstances have not been established through the available public sources.

The Anshu Asthana Memorial Fund

One of the clearest ways in which Anshu’s interests have been remembered is through the Anshu Asthana Memorial Fund, listed on GlobalGiving UK.

The fund was established around the idea of supporting creative opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, particularly in Camden, which the project describes as his home borough.

Its stated purpose was to help people recognise their artistic abilities, develop their skills and find opportunities to share their work. It also sought to challenge negative assumptions about homelessness by highlighting the creativity and potential of people living in difficult circumstances.

The initiative reflects an important part of how Anshu was remembered: as someone who believed that creative ability could be found in people whose talents were not always recognised by society.

The project page also includes some of his artwork among its resources.

Although the listing is now marked as retired, it remains a useful record of the values associated with his memory.

How Anushka Asthana Has Honoured Her Brother

Anushka has gradually shared more about her brother through her professional work and fundraising activities.

In May 2024, she wrote about his experience for ITV News following an interview with Labour politician Angela Rayner, whose mother had also experienced bipolar disorder.

The conversation prompted Anushka to reflect on her own family’s experiences and the importance of timely mental health support.

Her commitment continued in May 2025, when Runner’s World UK featured her plans to run the Manchester Marathon to raise funds for Bipolar UK in her brother’s memory. The magazine also identified her as a Bipolar UK ambassador.

The fundraising effort gave her an opportunity to connect her personal experience with a wider public discussion about mental health awareness and delayed diagnosis.

In this way, Anshu’s story became part of a broader campaign to encourage people to recognise bipolar disorder and improve access to appropriate support.

What Is Known About Anshu Asthana’s Personal Life?

Publicly available information about Anshu’s private life is limited.

His relationship with Anushka is established through her first-hand accounts, and the memorial fund provides further references to his identity as a son, friend and colleague.

However, reliable public records establishing his date of birth, birthplace, marital status, children or individual professional occupation have not been identified.

Similarly, there is insufficient information to provide a detailed account of his childhood, schools, university studies or employment history.

These gaps should be acknowledged rather than filled with assumptions based on his sister’s biography.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anshu Asthana

1. Who was Anshu Asthana?

Anshu Asthana was the brother of British journalist Anushka Asthana. He was remembered for his intelligence, creativity, artistic interests and experience with bipolar disorder.

2. Was Anshu Asthana Anushka Asthana’s brother?

Yes. Anushka has discussed her brother in her ITV News writing and explicitly identified him as Anshu Asthana in a May 2025 Runner’s World UK feature.

3. How old was Anshu Asthana when he died?

He was 37 years old when he died. His sister confirmed his age in her first-hand account for ITV News.

4. When did Anshu Asthana die?

The GlobalGiving listing for his memorial fund records his death as 13 November 2012.

5. Where did Anshu Asthana study?

According to his sister, he won a place at Cambridge University. His subject, college and graduation status have not been independently established.

6. Did Anshu Asthana have bipolar disorder?

Yes. His sister publicly discussed his experience with bipolar disorder and explained that he was not diagnosed until his 30s.

7. What was the Anshu Asthana Memorial Fund?

It was a memorial initiative listed on GlobalGiving UK that aimed to support creative projects for homeless individuals in Camden, reflecting Anshu’s interest in helping people develop and share their artistic abilities.

Conclusion

Anshu Asthana’s public story is primarily told through the memories and accounts shared by his sister. Those accounts describe an intelligent, creative individual whose life included significant personal challenges, but also a strong interest in music, art and the potential of other people.

His experience with bipolar disorder influenced Anushka Asthana’s efforts to raise awareness of delayed diagnosis, while the memorial fund established in his name sought to continue his interest in supporting creative opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.

Although many details of his private and professional life remain undocumented, the available evidence provides a meaningful picture of the person his family and friends remember.