Ganesh Acharya is an Indian choreographer, actor, director and producer. Born Sivaji Ganesan in Tamil Nadu to a choreographer father, he grew up in a highly artistic family and first learnt to dance from his sister.

When he was 10 years old, his father passed away, and Acharya began working as a dancer in order to make money for the family, even starting his own troupe. He began choreographing in his late teens, and by the time he was 21, he had worked on his first film, Anaam (1992). His career quickly took off, and he was soon working on numerous film projects each year. In less than 25 years, he has worked on over 175 film projects and has earned a great deal of recognition for his work, winning numerous award nominations. Some of his notable projects have been for films like Baadshah (1999), Lajja (2001), Khakhee (2004), Omkara (2006), Rang De Basanti (2006), Dabangg 2 (2012) and Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela (2013). He appeared on screen as a dancer in several of his works, including in Road (2002), Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003) and Jalwa: Fun in Love (2005). Acharya has often cited Madhuri Dixit and Govinda as being his favourite dancers in the film industry, and has choreographed the latter in a large number of his films.

He went on to direct and produce his first film under the banner of his company Pushpa Krishna Creations, Swami (2007).The film was inspired by Acharya’s own childhood years, and the characters of the protagonists, played by Juhi Chawla and Manoj Bajpai, are based on his own mother and father. He has since directed two more films – Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008) and Angel (2011). He is still active as a choreographer, and his latest releases are Hey Bro (2015), Mumbai Can Dance Saalaa (2015), and Sanam Re (2016).

The same year, he acted in his first Tamil film Rowthiram (2011), and two years later, he ventured into acting in the Hindi film industry, appearing in a film about dance, directed by the choreographer Remo, ABCD (Any Body Can Dance) (2013). He has, however, claimed that he does not really intend to pursue acting, and will look out for interesting directorial opportunities while focusing on his primary passion of dance and choreography.