Eswari Gunasagar

Eswari Gunasagar (born 6 February 1990) is a Singaporean actress and host.[1][2] In 2011, she was a finalist in the beauty pageant, Miss Vasantham.[3][4][5] As an artist managed by Mediacorp, Eswari has appeared on both Vasantham and Channel 5. She is also the co-founder of the eco-brand, Haus of Green.[6] As of June 2020, Eswari has over 106,000 followers on Instagram and over 12,000 followers on Twitter.

Eswari Gunasagar
Eswari Gunasagar Profile.png
Born6 February 1990
EducationBachelor of Business (Business Marketing), Master of Mass Communication
Alma materUniversity of Stirling, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Background

Early life & family

Eswari is the second-youngest of four siblings.[7] One of her siblings is the Oli 96.8FM radio presenter, Shamini Gunasagar.[8][9] When Eswari was a teenager, she aspired to be a police officer.[10][11]

Education

Eswari was from Assumption English Secondary School. After completing her GCE 'O' Level examinations, she enrolled in Nanyang Polytechnic. Eswari furthered her studies at the University of Stirling and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Business Marketing.[12] From 2018 to 2019, she pursued a Masters Degree in Mass Communications at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).[13][14][15]

Miss Vasantham - Finalist (2011)

 
Eswari during the Question and Answer segment in Miss Vasantham 2011. Photo from Uma Nathan.

Eswari participated in the Miss Vasantham beauty pageant when she was 21 years old.[16] At the time, she was a final year undergraduate student in university. Eswari passed the auditions and eventually made it as a finalist.[17][18]

Show business

 
Eshwari pictured as Gitanjali for Thilaanaa. Photo from Mediacorp Vasantham.

Following her success in Miss Vasantham, Eswari received a casting call from the producers of Vettai, a Tamil drama series.[19] Despite having applied to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) at the time, Eswari chose a career in acting.[20] As of 2020, Eswari has been in the show business for nine years.[21] In 2018, Eswari took a year-long break from the media industry to further her studies.[22] She returned to acting in early 2020.[23]

Acting - Television

In 2015, Eshwari debuted on Channel 5 as Shruti Bhaskar in the long-running television series, Tanglin.[24] The following is a list of her work over the years.

 
Eshwari pictured as Shruti Bhaskar in Tanglin. Photo from meWATCH.
Year Channel Title Character/ Role Refs.
2020 Channel 5 In the Wind Divya Menon [25][26]
2019 Vasantham Thilaanaa Gitanjali [27][28][29]
2018 Kalaba Kadhala Gitanjali [30]
2017 - 2018 Vettai 4: The Force Meera [31]
2016 Vetri 3: The Dream Chasers Kayal [32][33]
2015 - 2018 Channel 5 Tanglin Shruti Bhaskar [34]
2015 Vasantham Vetri 2: Road To Victory Kayal [35]
2014 Ethiree Main cast [36]
Vettai 3: The Final Judgement Meera [37][38]
2013 Nasi Briyani Revathi [39][40]
2012 Vettai 2: The Next Generation Meera [41]

Hosting - Variety shows

Apart from acting, Eswari has also hosted the following programmes.

Year Channel Title Refs.
2014 Vasantham Friends Season 2 [42]
Superstar Asia Challenge [43]
2013 Friends Season 1 [44]
2012 Namaste Bollywood [45]

Awards & accolades

In 2014 and 2016, Eswari was a nominee for the 'Best Actress' and 'Most Popular Female Personality' awards at Vasantham’s annual awards ceremony.[46][47]

Year Title Awards Awarding Organisation Refs.
2016 Most Popular Female Personality Pradhana Vizha Mediacorp Vasantham [48][49]

Entrepreneurship

House of Green - Co-founder (2019 - present day)

In September 2019, Eswari and Sherly Devonne Ng founded Haus of Green, a start-up that distributes eco-friendly alternatives to plastics.[50][51][52] The brand launched its first product, Grassias on 3 October 2019.[53] Grassias are grass straws that can be repurposed as fertiliser after use.[54] The straws are manufactured by a farmers' community in Vietnam. A portion of the profit is given back to this community.[55] Haus of Green has been distributing its grass straws to local restaurants.[56]

References/ Citations

  1. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). “Youths-Like-Us: Eswari Gunasagar’s Acting Workshop”. YouTube. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  2. Lam, Min Lee. “‘Better safe than sorry’: Actress Eswari stays healthy not just for herself”. AsiaOne. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  3. AsiaOne. “Eswari recalls her first onscreen kiss with Charlie”. YouTube. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  4. Tanglin and Vetri actress Eswari Gunasagar likes to wear the pants”. TODAY Entertainment. August 21, 2015. Accessed on 19 June 2020.
  5. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  6. Navin Pillay. “GET INTO THE DEEPAVALI SPIRIT WITH LOCAL CELEBRITIES ESWARI AND NARAIN”. Harper’s Bazaar. October 26, 2019. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  7. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  8. Tanglin and Vetri actress Eswari Gunasagar likes to wear the pants”. Today Entertainment. August 21, 2015. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  9. ntusglibrary. Instagram. July 27, 2019. Accessed on 21 June 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0bOD-3lTPz/?igshid=ei516up5pto3
  10. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). “Youths-Like-Us: Eswari Gunasagar’s Acting Workshop”. YouTube. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  11. Tanglin and Vetri actress Eswari Gunasagar likes to wear the pants”. Today Entertainment. August 21, 2015. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  12. Uma Nathan. “The New Singaporean Indian Woman.”. UMA NATHAN. November 17, 2014. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  13. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  14. Lam, Min Lee. “”Better safe than sorry’: Actress Eswari stays healthy not just for herself”. AsiaOne. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 19 June 2020.
  15. AsiaOne. “Eswari recalls her first onscreen kiss with Charlie”. YouTube. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  16. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). “Youths-Like-Us: Eswari Gunasagar’s Acting Workshop”. YouTube. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  17. Tanglin and Vetri actress Eswari Gunasagar likes to wear the pants”. Today Entertainment. August 21, 2015. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  18. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  19. Uma Nathan. “The New Singaporean Indian Woman.”. UMA NATHAN. November 17, 2014. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  20. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). “Youths-Like-Us: Eswari Gunasagar’s Acting Workshop”. YouTube. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  21. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). “Youths-Like-Us: Eswari Gunasagar’s Acting Workshop”. YouTube. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  22. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  23. AsiaOne. “Eswari recalls her first onscreen kiss with Charlie”. YouTube. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  24. Channel 5. “Eswari Gunasagar makes her Channel 5 debut on Tanglin!”. meWATCH. June 19, 2015. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  25. In the Wind”. IMDb. Accessed on 19 June 2020.
  26. Channel 5. “In The Wind - EP1”. meWATCH. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  27. esh_wari. Instagram. November 3, 2019. Accessed on 21 June 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aHRkWnB0V/?igshid=atl7jl8exdsv
  28. Vasantham. “Thilaanaa”. meWATCH. December 30, 2019. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  29. Mediacorp Vasantham. Facebook. December 11, 2017. Accessed on 22 June 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/mediacorp.vasantham/photos/a.179477862086831/2759477294086862/?type=3&theater
  30. Vasantham. “Kalaba Kadhala - EP1”. meWATCH. September 17, 2018. Accessed on 23 June 2020.
  31. Vasantham. “Vettai S4 - EP44”. meWATCH. February 28, 2018. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  32. Vetri S3 Info”. meWATCH. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  33. Vasantham. “Vetri S3 - EP41”. meWATCH. September 13, 2016. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  34. Channel 5. “Eswari Gunasagar makes her Channel 5 debut on Tanglin!”. meWATCH. June 19, 2015. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  35. meWATCH. “Vetri S2 - EP47”. meWATCH. September 11, 2015. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  36. Ethiree. “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  37. Vettai 3: The Final Judgement”. IMDb. Accessed on 19 June 2020.
  38. meWATCH. “Vettai S3 - EP71”. meWATCH. November 17, 2014. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  39. VASANTHAM CENTRAL AGAYLA DRAMA”. Avenu Movies. August 7, 2019. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  40. Mediacorp Vasantham. “Catch Nasi Briyani exclusive online webisodes here!”. Facebook. May 16, 2013. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  41. meWATCH. “Vettai S2 - EP73”. meWATCH. January 3, 2012. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  42. Vasantham. “Friends S2 Part 1 - EP12”. meWATCH. June 17, 2014. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  43. Surprise win at Tamil singing contest”. Chennai First. April 23, 2014. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  44. Vasantham. “Friends S1 Part 2 - EP1”. meWATCH. December 25, 2013. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  45. Namaste Bollywood. “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  46. Uma Nathan. “The New Singaporean Indian Woman.”. UMA NATHAN. November 17, 2014. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  47. Seah, May. “Pradhana Vizha 2016 awards nominees revealed”. TODAY Entertainment. August 17, 2016. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  48. Raguraman, Anjali. “Father-son victory for Re Somasundaram and Karthikeyan Somasundaram at Pradhana Vizha”. The Straits Times. September 19, 2016. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  49. Reena Devi Shanmuga Retnam. “Father and son celebration”. TODAY Entertainment. September 19, 2016. Accessed on 22 June 2020.
  50. hausofgreen_. Instagram. September 29, 2020. Accessed on 19 June 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_Fnh-hPto/?igshid=y5gbp8653a17
  51. AsiaOne. “Eswari recalls her first onscreen kiss with Charlie”. YouTube. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  52. Seah, May. “Eswari’s Deepavali tip: Put your phones away and enjoy time with loved ones”. CNA Lifestyle. October 13, 2019. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
  53. hausodgreen_. Instagram. October 3, 2019. Accessed on 19 June 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3JAO7mBCQo/?igshid=184mw6hknncyp
  54. Navin Pillay. “GET INTO THE DEEPAVALI SPIRIT WITH LOCAL CELEBRITIES ESWARI AND MARAIN”. Harper’s Bazaar. October 26, 2019. Accessed on 21 June 2020.
  55. Lam, Min Lee. “”Better safe than sorry’: Actress Eswari stays healthy not just for herself”. AsiaOne. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 19 June 2020.
  56. AsiaOne. “Eswari recalls her first onscreen kiss with Charlie”. YouTube. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 18 June 2020.