A software engineer-turned-filmmaker Anup Bhandari was born to Rathna Bhandari and director Sudhakar Bhandari. After completing his engineering from the Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering & Technology (VVIET), Mysore, India, Anup went on the write and direct his debut project RangiTaranga (2015) which received critical acclaim post its release. With the movie being one of the most successful Kannada movies of the year, it won several accolades including the Filmfare Award for Best Film. Anup who had also written the songs and composed for the movie won the Filmfare Award for Best Director and the IIFA Utsavam Awards for Best Music Director and Best Lyrics. He is associated with the bilingual movies Rajaratha and Rajaratham, directed by Anup Bhandari. His 2019 release includes Aadi Lakshmi Puraana, directed by Priya V.