Ms Vani Tripathi Tikoo, an Actor and a Producer by profession, is one of the youngest ever members of the Central Board of Film Certification, popularly known as "censor board".

She has been a socio-political activist and her campaigns and outreach programmes have focused on encouraging women's participation in politics and bringing the youth to a universal platform that addresses issues including education, empowerment and employment.

She has been closely involved in theatre, films and television, having worked in projects in India as well as abroad. As an actor, she has about 50 plays, 40-odd TV serials and six films to her credit. She has worked in plays by legends like Anton Chekov, Peter Shaffer, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and several Indian playwrights.

After graduating in political science from the Delhi University, she went to the Living Theatre Academy of Drama and learnt acting under the guidance of the legendary theatre guru Ebrahim Alkazi.

Her close links with theatre are further manifested in her founding the country's first state run drama school in Bhopal – Madhya Pradesh Natya Vidyalaya – in Madhya Pradesh in 2011.

An extremely talented individual, Ms Tikoo was also attached to journalism and broadcasting in India. She continues to contribute to Indian newspapers from time to time.

She currently analyses issues related to broadcasting and cinema and was part of the Core Steering Committee for the International Film Festival of India, Goa (IFFI) since the past four years.