Roopa Modha, an internationally recognised media personality, attorney, writer, poet, lyricist, pageant queen, dancer, choreographer and advocate for social change, has been honoured as a Winner of the Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards. The recognition acknowledges an extraordinary body of work spanning the arts, literature, media, law, philanthropy and advocacy.
Roopa Modha Receives the Durga Shakti Award 2026
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards celebrates women whose professional achievements, creative contributions, leadership and social initiatives demonstrate strength, purpose and meaningful impact.
Roopa Modha appears to represent the breadth of achievement that this recognition seeks to acknowledge. Her career has moved across media, law, literature, dance, entertainment, public advocacy and charitable initiatives, creating a profile that extends well beyond any single professional discipline.
Her work combines artistic expression with public engagement, while her involvement in causes related to women’s rights, girls’ education, anti bullying initiatives and social welfare adds another significant dimension to her journey.
The Journey of Roopa Modha
Roopa Modha is a multi-talented individual who is a renowned media personality (model, emcee, host for international channels including ZeeTV, B4U, TV Asia, AwesomeITV, etc.), attorney (JD), writer (3 published books, 3,000+ articles published worldwide), poet (Navarasa: The Colors of Life), lyricist (“I Rise” – Agents of Harmony), International Pageant Queen (Ms. Woman of Achievement International 2017, Ms. Regal World 2026), dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher.
She excels at numerous dance styles—Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Semi-Classical, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Bollywood (under Smt. Saroj Khan)—and is also trained in Bellydance as well as the basics of Kathak and Mohiniyattam. Her ability in dance has earned her the praise of distinguished Gurus as well as titles like, “Shine of Indian Classical Dance,” “Nritya Medhini,” “Natyakala Saraswati,” among others.
Legendary music director Bappi Lahiri described Roopa as the “most intelligent and impressive emcee in Bollywood and Hollywood.” Smt. Saroj Khan praised Roopa that she “has the talent, form, expressions, and memory of Vyjayantimala,” a renowned and respected Bharatanatyam dancer and actress.
A recipient of prestigious awards from around the world, Roopa has been honored for her achievements and impact across several fields. For her work for women’s rights and girls’ education she was honored as a Changemaker by the Obama White House (USA), received the Angel Award, honored with ANOKHI Advocate award in Canada, and was a recipient of the Women of Heart Award (UK).
For her excellence in multiple fields, she has been conferred titles including Wonder Woman (CT State Senate), Most Inspiring Woman of the Earth, and Most Phenomenal Woman of the World. Her literary contributions have earned her the Sahitya Ratna Samman, the ACCI Book Award for Best Poetry Collection, the Person of the Year Book Award (Fiction-Poetry), The Booky Award for Best Treatment of Emotion, and the Tagore Kala and Sahitya Academy Award. In addition to holding over 50 world records in dance, she is also a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award.
Roopa Modha has always been a catalyst for systemic change who has focused on charity. A social media campaign she created helped raise $10,000 in 3 days for Indian Dreams Foundation, which funded education and living expenses for 30+ girls in India. She has used her legal and journalistic influence to address critical issues—from speaking at the New York Consulate on India’s water shortages, to working with the NY Giants and Bullying.org to raise $10K for anti-bullying, to advocating for South Asian bone marrow donations (resulted in a life-saving match).
A domestic violence panel she organized and conducted as a law student spearheaded reform in Connecticut law to remove a marital rape exemption (Public Act 19-189). She has carried this crusade back to India, lecturing on women’s safety laws at prestigious universities. Notably, she was an invited speaker at Lead India 2020 summit in NY and spoke regarding getting girls quality education in India.
Five Key Reasons Roopa Modha Is an Apt Choice for the Durga Shakti Award 2026
1. Exceptional Achievement Across Multiple Fields
Roopa Modha has established an extensive professional and creative portfolio spanning media, law, literature, dance, entertainment and public engagement. Her ability to operate across these fields reflects remarkable range and sustained commitment.
2. Distinguished Contribution to Dance and the Arts
With expertise across several Indian classical and contemporary dance forms, Roopa has developed a substantial artistic career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her recognition through multiple dance titles and more than 50 world records further forms an important part of her artistic profile.
3. Significant Literary and Media Contributions
As a writer, poet, lyricist and media professional, Roopa has created work across multiple platforms. Her three published books and more than 3,000 articles represent a substantial contribution to written and digital media.
4. Commitment to Women and Girls
Roopa’s advocacy has included initiatives concerning women’s rights, girls’ education, domestic violence awareness and women’s safety. Her involvement in these areas demonstrates a sustained interest in using professional and public platforms for social causes.
5. A Strong Record of Philanthropic Engagement
Her charitable initiatives have supported education, anti bullying efforts and healthcare related advocacy. The causes she has supported demonstrate a continuing commitment to using visibility and influence for community focused initiatives.
About the Durga Shakti Award 2026
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 is an initiative by Cherry Book Awards created to recognise women whose journeys reflect strength, achievement, resilience, creativity and purpose.
Inspired by the enduring symbolism associated with Goddess Durga, the recognition acknowledges women who demonstrate courage and determination through their professional accomplishments, creative pursuits, leadership and contributions to society.
The award brings together stories from diverse fields and highlights the many different ways women can create meaningful influence through their work and dedication.
About Cherry Book Awards
Cherry Book Awards is a literary and recognition platform dedicated to celebrating authors, poets, writers, artists and creative contributors across diverse fields.
Its mission is centred on recognising meaningful achievements, documenting individual journeys and providing greater visibility to distinctive creative and professional voices. Through its recognition programmes and editorial initiatives, Cherry Book Awards seeks to celebrate people whose work and experiences can inspire wider audiences.
The Durga Shakti Award 2026 forms part of this broader recognition vision, extending its focus towards women whose accomplishments demonstrate creativity, strength and purposeful contribution.
Art, Law, Literature and Advocacy
Roopa Modha’s career stands out for the unusual combination of disciplines it encompasses. Her work in media and entertainment exists alongside her legal education, literary pursuits and extensive involvement in dance.
Her experience as an attorney also provides another perspective to her advocacy. Her engagement with issues concerning women’s safety, domestic violence and social welfare demonstrates how professional knowledge can be channelled towards public causes.
At the same time, her literary and artistic work provides a platform for creative expression. Poetry, songwriting, writing and dance have remained important elements of her identity, allowing her to communicate through both performance and the written word.
This combination of creativity and advocacy appears to be a defining feature of Roopa Modha’s journey.
A Recognition of Influence Through Action
The significance of Roopa Modha’s journey lies not only in the number of fields she has entered, but also in the manner in which she has used those platforms.
Her work has brought together entertainment, literature, law, dance and philanthropy, while her involvement in charitable and advocacy initiatives has connected her professional visibility with wider social concerns.
From supporting girls’ education to participating in anti bullying initiatives and advocating for women’s safety, her career demonstrates an ongoing engagement with issues beyond the conventional boundaries of the arts and media.
Conclusion
The recognition of Roopa Modha as a Winner of the Durga Shakti Award 2026 by Cherry Book Awards honours a career distinguished by artistic achievement, literary contribution, professional versatility and social engagement.
As a media personality, attorney, author, poet, lyricist, dancer, choreographer, teacher and advocate, Roopa Modha has created a professional identity that crosses multiple disciplines.
Her recognition through the Durga Shakti Award 2026 marks another significant chapter in this journey. It acknowledges the breadth of her accomplishments while drawing attention to the values of determination, creativity, leadership and purposeful action.
Roopa Modha’s story appears to demonstrate that influence can take many forms. It can emerge through art, words, professional expertise, advocacy or service to others. Her journey continues to bring these dimensions together in a manner that makes her recognition by Cherry Book Awards particularly meaningful.
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