A face in the Crowd new guest,Anjali Balwal – an inspiration to anyone who’s ever doubted themselves! 💫 She told Tarana that her mission is to motivate every person who’s paused their dreams to believe again — because you can still do it! Representing New Zealand, Anjali was crowned 1st Runner-Up at Mrs India Worldwide in the Australia/NZ zone, a prestigious pageant by Hautmonde now in its 14th year. Held in Dubai from June 15–22, the contest featured 100 finalists selected from thousands of global applicants of Indian origin. Born in Jammu & Kashmir, Anjali grew up in Chandigarh (DAV College) and later moved to New Zealand to pursue her MBA at the University of Canterbury. She worked as a business manager before settling in Auckland, where she owned the fine-dining restaurant Wine Chambers on Shortland Street. There, she had the honour of hosting Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, and many other notable guests. Sadly, her business was impacted by COVID, but life had other plans. During a trip to India, a friend encouraged her to enter the pageant. Despite coming from a traditional Rajput family, her supportive husband stood by her, helping her take the leap. To her surprise, she was selected! After some ramp walk training, she flew to Dubai, where she was mentored by Lubna Adam and Kavita Kamble, and learned the art of stage presence. Along with 1st Runner-Up, she also bagged the Mrs. Iconic Eyes title! 👁️✨ Anjali now receives international opportunities and is focused on balancing her professional life and family, especially being a hands-on mum to her 8-year-old son. Her message is clear: “There’s nothing that can stop you if you truly want to do it.” 🌺 Wishing her all the best in her future endeavours!  

A face in the Crowd new guest,Anjali Balwal &ndash; an inspiration to anyone who&rsquo;s ever doubted themselves! 💫 She told Tarana that her mission is to motivate every person who&rsquo;s paused their dreams to believe again &mdash; because you can still do it! Representing New Zealand, Anjali was crowned 1st Runner-Up at Mrs India Worldwide in the Australia/NZ zone, a prestigious pageant by Hautmonde now in its 14th year. Held in Dubai from June 15&ndash;22, the contest featured 100 finalists selected from thousands of global applicants of Indian origin. Born in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Anjali grew up in Chandigarh (DAV College) and later moved to New Zealand to pursue her MBA at the University of Canterbury. She worked as a business manager before settling in Auckland, where she owned the fine-dining restaurant Wine Chambers on Shortland Street. There, she had the honour of hosting Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, and many other notable guests. Sadly, her business was impacted by COVID, but life had other plans. During a trip to India, a friend encouraged her to enter the pageant. Despite coming from a traditional Rajput family, her supportive husband stood by her, helping her take the leap. To her surprise, she was selected! After some ramp walk training, she flew to Dubai, where she was mentored by Lubna Adam and Kavita Kamble, and learned the art of stage presence. Along with 1st Runner-Up, she also bagged the Mrs. Iconic Eyes title! 👁️✨ Anjali now receives international opportunities and is focused on balancing her professional life and family, especially being a hands-on mum to her 8-year-old son. Her message is clear: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing that can stop you if you truly want to do it.&rdquo; 🌺 Wishing her all the best in her future endeavours!&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Face in the Crowd
Hosted by RJ Sarkar Raj & RJ Neha BhatiaPowered by Radio Tarana | Stream on ROVA App
“A Face in the Crowd” is a heartfelt, community-driven podcast that celebrates the untold stories of everyday people—migrants, workers, artists, parents—who arrived in New Zealand with little more than hope in their pockets and resilience in their hearts.
Each episode brings forward an individual whose journey from the margins to recognition reflects the rich, diverse fabric of Aotearoa. From walking alone late at night after a job shift… to facing cultural, financial, and emotional challenges—these are not celebrities, but they are the real faces shaping our neighbourhoods, raising families, and adding meaning to the Kiwi migrant identity.
Why we are doing this podcast:Because behind every radio voice, there’s a real human story. Both hosts—RJ Sarkar Raj and RJ Neha Bhatia—have lived those stories. From being new immigrants to becoming respected broadcasters, they now return to the community with a microphone, but this time, it's for you.
What makes this podcast unique and relevant to New Zealand:
It is rooted in the migrant experience, which is central to NZ’s multicultural growth.
It provides representation and dignity to those who often remain unseen in mainstream media.
It amplifies community voices on a platform powered by Radio Tarana, NZ’s leading South Asian / Fiji Indian

A Face in the Crowd Hosted by RJ Sarkar Raj &amp; RJ Neha BhatiaPowered by Radio Tarana | Stream on ROVA App &ldquo;A Face in the Crowd&rdquo; is a heartfelt, community-driven podcast that celebrates the untold stories of everyday people&mdash;migrants, workers, artists, parents&mdash;who arrived in New Zealand with little more than hope in their pockets and resilience in their hearts. Each episode brings forward an individual whose journey from the margins to recognition reflects the rich, diverse fabric of Aotearoa. From walking alone late at night after a job shift&hellip; to facing cultural, financial, and emotional challenges&mdash;these are not celebrities, but they are the real faces shaping our neighbourhoods, raising families, and adding meaning to the Kiwi migrant identity. Why we are doing this podcast:Because behind every radio voice, there&rsquo;s a real human story. Both hosts&mdash;RJ Sarkar Raj and RJ Neha Bhatia&mdash;have lived those stories. From being new immigrants to becoming respected broadcasters, they now return to the community with a microphone, but this time, it's for you. What makes this podcast unique and relevant to New Zealand: It is rooted in the migrant experience, which is central to NZ&rsquo;s multicultural growth. It provides representation and dignity to those who often remain unseen in mainstream media. It amplifies community voices on a platform powered by Radio Tarana, NZ&rsquo;s leading South Asian / Fiji Indian