Anand Narasimhan is a leading Indian television journalist and news anchor, best known as the host of CNN-News18’s prime-time debate show The Right Stand and as the channel’s Managing Editor, Special Projects. With over a decade at two of India’s biggest English news networks, Narasimhan remains one of the most recognizable political anchors on Indian television heading into 2026, regularly anchoring the channel’s election-night coverage.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Anand Narasimhan |
| Date of Birth | |
| Age | |
| Birthplace | not publicly confirmed; educated in Mumbai |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Education | B.Com (R.A. Podar College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai); Diploma in Mass Communication (St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai); MBA in Marketing (SIES College of Management Studies) |
| Profession | Journalist, TV News Anchor, Managing Editor |
| Known For | The Right Stand (CNN-News18) |
| Spouse | Nisha Vishwanath |
| Children | Sahisht (son), Rudheera (daughter) |
| Social Handles | X: @AnchorAnandN |
Who Is Anand Narasimhan?
Anand Narasimhan is the Managing Editor, Special Projects and a senior prime-time anchor at CNN-News18, part of the Network18 group. He is widely known for his nationalist-leaning political commentary and for anchoring high-profile election coverage, panel debates, and current-affairs specials on the channel. Before joining CNN-News18, he spent nearly a decade at Times Now, where he anchored segments of the flagship Newshour debate franchise.
Early Life & Family
Public details of Anand Narasimhan’s early life, parents, and siblings are not well documented. He is married to Nisha Vishwanath, a Vice President at iBUS, and the couple have two children, a son named Sahisht and a daughter named Rudheera.
Education
Narasimhan studied commerce in Mumbai, earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree from R.A. Podar College of Commerce and Economics. He later completed a Diploma in Mass Communication from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and an MBA in Marketing from SIES College of Management Studies — a background that initially pointed him toward a career in advertising rather than journalism.
Career
Early Career: Advertising to Broadcasting
Narasimhan began his professional life as a media planner at GroupM, working in advertising rather than news. In 2005, he entered and won Closeup Dream Job – Harsha Ki Khoj, a presenter-search competition run by ESPN Star Sports and cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle. The win earned him a year-long stint as a sports presenter from ESPN Star Sports’ Singapore studio, marking his shift from advertising into broadcast media.
The Times Now Years (2009–2018)
Narasimhan joined the Times Network in 2009, going on to anchor segments of Newshour on Times Now and eventually rising to Senior Editor. He remained at the network until 2018, becoming one of its more prominent primetime faces during a period when Times Now’s debate-driven format dominated Indian English news television.
CNN-News18 Era (2018–Present)
In October 2018, Narasimhan moved to rival network CNN-News18 as Deputy Executive Editor, launching his own prime-time show, The Right Stand, on October 8, 2018. The show built a format around people-centric stories and viewer-driven debate. He has since been elevated to Managing Editor, Special Projects and Senior Anchor, a role in which he also writes commentary on Indian politics and sports for the News18 website and contributes to the channel’s fact-checking coverage.
Awards & Recognition
- ENBA Award for Best Anchor in English — ENBA Awards, 2021
- Society Achievers Award for Excellence in Media and Broadcast Journalism — 2022
Controversies
INDIA Bloc Boycott (2023): In September 2023, Narasimhan was among 14 television anchors publicly boycotted by India’s opposition INDIA alliance, which accused the named anchors of hosting “communal debates” and coverage it said was distant from issues of public interest. Following the boycott, Network18 internally described Narasimhan as an “editorial sherpa,” a designation reported by media outlets as a mark of institutional support rather than an official title change.
Malappuram Defamation Case: A Judicial Magistrate Court in Malappuram, Kerala, issued a summons to Times Now editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar and Narasimhan (then a Newshour anchor) over statements made on a broadcast connecting activist A.S. Sainaba to an NIA report on religious conversions. Sainaba said the coverage damaged her reputation by linking her to allegations she disputed. Narasimhan and Shivshankar approached the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the proceedings.
Both matters are reported as documented legal/institutional events; this article does not take a position on the underlying disputes.
Personal Life
Narasimhan is a Hindu and describes himself as an active social media user, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where he posts political commentary and cricket-related content. He has spoken about being an avid reader and maintains a regular gym and cycling routine. He reportedly owns a Mahindra Scorpio-N.
Anand Narasimhan in 2026
As of 2026, Anand Narasimhan continues in his role as Managing Editor, Special Projects and Senior Anchor at CNN-News18, hosting The Right Stand and fronting the channel’s coverage of India’s 2026 state assembly elections across Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. He remains a regular contributor of political and sports commentary to the News18 website and continues to be a visible presence in the channel’s fact-checking initiatives, addressing viral misinformation claims involving public figures.
FAQs
Who is Anand Narasimhan?
He is an Indian journalist and television news anchor, known for hosting The Right Stand on CNN-News18.
How old is Anand Narasimhan?
His exact date of birth is not publicly confirmed.
Who is Anand Narasimhan’s wife?
He is married to Nisha Vishwanath, a Vice President at iBUS; the couple have two children.
What show does Anand Narasimhan host?
He hosts The Right Stand, a prime-time debate show on CNN-News18, which launched in October 2018.
Which channel did Anand Narasimhan work for before CNN-News18?
He worked at Times Now, anchoring segments of Newshour and serving as Senior Editor until 2018.
Why was Anand Narasimhan boycotted by the INDIA bloc?
In September 2023, India’s opposition INDIA alliance publicly boycotted him along with 13 other anchors, citing concerns over “communal debates” and coverage it viewed as distant from public interest.
What awards has Anand Narasimhan won?
He received the ENBA Award for Best Anchor in English (2021) and a Society Achievers Award for Excellence in Media and Broadcast Journalism (2022).
Last updated: September 2026
