If you’ve spent any time watching medical dramas over the last few years, you definitely know her face. Anuja Joshi has that kind of screen presence that makes you stop scrolling. Most people recognize her as the brilliant, slightly stubborn Dr. Leela Devi on The Resident, but if you think that’s all she’s done, you are missing out on some of the best indie and international streaming gems of the decade.
Honestly, her career path is kinda fascinating. She didn’t just pop up in Hollywood out of nowhere. She’s part of a massive acting lineage—her father is Alankar Joshi, a child star of Indian cinema, and her aunt is the legendary Pallavi Joshi. But Anuja didn’t take the easy route. She went to NYU Tisch, ground it out in the New York theater scene, and eventually started landing roles that proved she can do way more than just recite medical jargon.
The Roles That Defined Anuja Joshi Movies and TV Shows
When we talk about Anuja Joshi movies and tv shows, the conversation usually starts and ends with The Resident. And for good reason. Joining a hit show in its fourth season is hard. Making the audience fall in love with you while playing a character with a complex learning disability like dyslexia? That’s next-level.
Leela Devi wasn't just another "doctor character." She was a disruptor. Seeing her navigate the high-stakes world of Chastain Memorial while dealing with her twin sister Padma—played by her real-life twin, Aneesha Joshi—added a layer of authenticity you just don't see often. The "twin dynamic" wasn't some CGI trickery; it was raw and real.
Hello Mini: The Psychological Thriller You Haven't Seen (But Should)
Before she was scrubbing in for surgery, Anuja was the face of one of India's most intense psychological thrillers. If you haven't seen Hello Mini, go find it on MX Player. She plays Rivanah Bannerjee, a young woman moved to Mumbai who gets stalked by a "Stranger" who knows everything about her.
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It's dark. It's gritty. It’s definitely not a Hallmark movie.
Across three seasons, Anuja carries the entire show. You watch her character go from a terrified victim to someone who eventually has to reclaim her own power. It was a massive hit in South Asia and basically proved she could lead a franchise on her own.
The Hallmark Pivot: Christmas with the Singhs
Switching gears entirely, 2024 gave us Christmas with the Singhs. It’s a complete 180 from a stalker thriller. Anuja plays Asha Singh, a woman bringing her fiancé home for the holidays, only to realize their families are... well, polar opposites.
It’s cozy, it’s funny, and it shows her comedic timing. Most actors get stuck in one "vibe," but she seems to jump from "traumatized software engineer" to "ambitious surgeon" to "festive lead" without breaking a sweat.
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Breaking Down the Filmography
Looking at the full list of Anuja Joshi movies and tv shows, you start to see a pattern of her picking roles that challenge the "model minority" myth. She plays characters with flaws, secrets, and messy personal lives.
- The Resident (2021–2023): As Dr. Leela Devi. This is her most "mainstream" Western role and where she really sharpened her skills as a series regular.
- Americanish (2021): A really sweet indie film where she plays Archana. It’s about Pakistani-American sisters (and a cousin) navigating romance and career in Jackson Heights. It won a ton of festival awards for a reason.
- Broken But Beautiful (Season 2): She played Debbie. If you’re into romantic dramas that actually hurt to watch because they're so relatable, this is the one.
- Fantasy Island (2021): She had a guest spot as Nisha. Even in a one-off episode, she stood out against the tropical backdrop.
Why She’s Ranking So High with Fans Right Now
The thing about Anuja is that she feels "un-Hollywood." In interviews, she’s super open about the struggles of being a South Asian actress in a room full of people who don't always "get" the culture. She’s also been very vocal about the importance of representing dyslexia on screen, something she and the writers of The Resident worked on closely to make sure it wasn't just a plot device.
People love the "realness." Whether she’s posting behind-the-scenes clips with her twin or talking about her NYU days, she feels like a peer rather than some unreachable star.
What’s Next in 2026?
As of early 2026, there are a lot of rumors swirling about her next big move. After The Resident ended its run, she’s been focused on more film-heavy projects. There’s been talk of her returning to the streaming space in India for a high-budget limited series, but nothing is "official" until the trailers drop.
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One thing is for sure: she isn't going back to being "just a supporting character." Her track record with Hello Mini and The Resident shows she's built for lead billing.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you want to catch up on her best work, here is how you should prioritize your binge-watching:
- Watch Hello Mini first. It’s her most raw performance and shows her range better than anything else.
- Skip to Season 4 of The Resident if you specifically want to see her arc. You don't strictly need the first three seasons to understand Leela’s journey.
- Check out Americanish if you want something feel-good. It’s a great pallet cleanser after the stress of her thrillers.
- Follow her socials. She is actually one of the few actors who interacts with fans and gives genuine updates on where her projects are streaming, which can be a nightmare to track across different countries.
Anuja Joshi has basically cracked the code of being a global actor. She isn't just an "Indian actress" or a "TV doctor." She's a performer who happens to be equally comfortable in a Mumbai thriller and a Georgia hospital. If her trajectory keeps up, she’s going to be a household name by the end of the decade.
To stay updated on her latest releases, keep an eye on streaming platforms like Hulu and MX Player, as her work tends to bounce between the two depending on the region.