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Shenaz Treasury is an Indian actress, model, VJ, writer, and travel influencer. Forbes named her in their India’s Top 100 Digital Stars 2022 list. Shenaz is known for hosting MTV’s Most Wanted (2000-2005) and starring in films such as Ishq Vishk (2003), Aagey Se Right (2009), and Delhi Belly (2011).
Wiki/Biography
Shenaz Treasurywala was born on Monday, 29 June 1981 (age 42 years; as of 2023) in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India. Her zodiac sign is Cancer. She is an alumna of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. From 2000 to 2001, she studied Film Acting and Writing at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. She has studied Sociology and Anthropology at Xaviers’ Institute of Communication. She studied Journalism at the Management Development Institute of Singapore. She studied Screenplay Writing, Humor Writing, and Memoir Writing at Gotham Writers. She studied Acting at Larry Moss Studio from 2007 to 2008. She did courses on Scene Study and Solo Show at Barrow Group from 2010 to 2013. She studied Improv and Sketch Comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade from 2011 to 2012. She studied Screenwriting and Screenplay writing at New York University from 2012 to 2013.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Figure Measurements (approx.): 36-30-34
Family
Shenaz Treasury was born in a Parsi family in Mumbai.
Parents & Siblings
Shenaz’s father, Homi Treasurywala, is a Captain in the Merchant Navy. Her mother, Maneck Treasurywala, is a drama teacher.
Shenaz Treasury with her parents
She has a sister, Tina Treasuryvala, who runs the Starkids Speech and Creative Drama Club in Mumbai.
Shenaz Treasury (Right) with Sister Tina Treasuryvala (Left)
Relationships/Affairs
She was in a relationship with Piyush Agarwal but broke up with him in 2001. After her break up, she joined the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York to study method acting.
Career
Music Videos
In 1997, she appeared with Milind Soman in the music video for the song, ‘Tum Mujhko Chuna Naa’, from Ila Arun’s album, ‘Khichdi’. In 1999, she appeared in the music video for the remix, ‘Aa Jaane Jaan’.
Shenaz Treasury in Tum Mujhko Chuna Naa
Advertisements
Shenaz received her first advertisement from Gold Spot, a soft drink brand by Parle, during her first year of college. She has also worked in advertisements for products such as Philips India, Synergy, Trigger Jeans, Akai, and Elle 18.
Shenaz Treasury in the advertisement for Philips
Television
Indian Television
In the first year of her college, she started working as a VJ for MTV. Her most famous stint with MTV was when she hosted ‘MTV Most Wanted India’ (2000-2005).
Shenaz in a still from MTV Most Wanted
She hosted the ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ on Star TV in 2008. She was a host on NDTV Imagine’s ‘The Unforgettable Tour’ in the same year.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
In 2018, she hosted the ‘WWE Raw Sunday Dhamaal’ episode.
Shenaz Treasury hosting WWE Raw Sunday Dhamal
Hong Kong Television
Shenaz Treasury appeared in ‘MTV Whatever Things’ in 2003.
Poster of MTV Whatever Things
American Television
She has been associated with the Discovery Networks since 2007 and works as a host, writer, and producer for a travel show titled ‘Culture Shock.’
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Culture Shock
She appeared on ‘One Life To Live’ (2010-2013) as Rama Patel. In 2016, she starred in the Netflix show, ‘Brown Nation’ as Dimple Parikh. In 2015, she was a correspondent and a contributor on Comedy Central’s ‘The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.’
Shenaz Treasury in a still from The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Films
Telugu Film
In 2001, Shenaz debuted in Telugu films with ‘Eduruleni Manishi’ as Srilekha/Sri.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Eduruleni Manishi
Hindi Films
Shenaz Treasury starred in ‘Ishq Vishk’ as Alisha Sahay in 2003. The film was a box office hit and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Ishq Vishk
In 2004, she had a cameo in ‘Hum Tum.’ In 2009, she starred in ‘Aagey Se Right’ as Pearl. In 2011, she wrote the screenplay and appeared in ‘Luv Ka The End.’ In the same year, she starred in ‘Delhi Belly’ as Sonia Mehra.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Delhi Belly
In 2014, she starred in ‘Main Aur Mr. Riight.’ In 2018, she appeared in ‘Kaalakaandi’ as Ayesha.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Kaalakaandi
English Films
In 2015, she appeared in ‘The Networker’ as Maureen O’Brien. In 2017, she appeared in ‘The Big Sick.’ In 2021, she had a starring role in ‘Americanish’ as Ameera.
Social Media
Since 2007, she has hosted ‘Travel With Shenaz!’ on her YouTube channel. As of January 2024, she has, more than 1.1 million followers on Instagram, 1.7 million followers on Facebook, 22.7K followers on X, and 441K subscribers on YouTube.
Shenaz Treasury in a still from Travel With Shenaz
She regularly uploads her travel vlogs on Instagram as well. She has more than 10 million followers on different social media platforms, which include Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Awards
- Shenaz Treasury won the Influencer Spreading Positivity Through Social Media Content Award at the ET Inspiring Women Awards 2021.
Shenaz with her Influencer Spreading Positivity Through Social Media Content Award
- In 2023, she was felicitated at the ET Travel & Tourism Awards as the “New age ambassador of Tourism”.
Favourites
- Activity: Travelling, Snorkelling
Facts/Trivia
- In 2018, she launched her destination marketing company, We Run The World.
- She won her first camera in a slogan campaign for a soft drink brand, Gold Spot. She revealed this in a Facebook post and wrote,
I won my first camera in a slogan campaign for Gold Spot when I was just 10 years old ( remember gold spot? ) it was a Nikon SLR camera and since then I was passionate about taking photos.”
- In 2022, Shenaz Treasury was diagnosed with Prosopagnosia, a type of cognitive disorder which makes it difficult for people to recognise others from their faces.
- In 2023, Shenaz revealed that she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
- She has written a book titled ‘All He Left Me Was a Recipe.’ The book is influenced by her life and talks about all the men in the life of Shenaz who have been a part of her life in some form or way.
Shenaz Treasury on the cover of her book, All He Left Me Was A Recipe
- According to Shenaz, she took inspiration from her life when writing the screenplay for the film, ‘Luv Ka The End.’ In an interview, she talked about different characters in the film taken from her real life and said,
Every character in the film is an exaggeration of someone I know. Luv Nanda (the character played by newcomer Taaha Shah in the film) is an ex-boyfriend who broke my heart. I dreamed and `schemed every night of getting even just like Rhea does in the film.”
- Shenaz Treasurywala talked about being born during a voyage, in an interview, and said,
My father is Homi Treasurywala, a captain. My mother gave birth to me during a voyage. We were travelling from one country to another until I was five years old. I was selected as an MTV VJ when I was a student of the St Xavier’s College in Mumbai. That was a turning point. Once I started earning, I started my travels. I flew to all the countries to which I had voyaged in my childhood. I recorded whatever I liked.”
- She does not indulge in smoking but occasionally drinks alcohol.
Shenaz Treasury with an alcoholic beverage