Anime Devta began with a belief: that the stories and heroes we grew up with could find a new voice in anime - and a place in the hearts of a new generation.
Today, AD is growing from a passionate homegrown brand into a global Sanatan storytelling universe, rooted in Kashi and carrying India’s cultural imagination to the world.
Founded by Dev Taneja, Anime Devta brought together the visual energy of anime and the stories of our deities and heroes. Apparel became its first canvas - a way to carry these connections into everyday life with pride, affection and belonging.
What began as a creative instinct found a community - with over 20,000 customers across a dozen countries. People found something of themselves in the designs: courage, devotion, strength, and a connection to the stories they had grown up with.
Dev’s plan was to eventually hand AD to someone who could nurture its spirit and take it to its next logical stage.
Then he met Anil Chhikara.
After twenty-five years in Bengaluru’s entrepreneurial world, Anil moved to Kashi seeking a new purpose. An entrepreneur and artist, he had also pursued sculpture at the New York Academy of Art and studied “Art and Art Markets” at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
His entrepreneurial journey had drawn him deep into the Bhagavad Gita, exploring its wisdom through his own experiences of ambition, uncertainty, action and purpose.
In Kashi, he wanted to bring these experiences together in a commercially sustainable business that could share Sanatan Dharma’s stories and wisdom with a new generation.
When the opportunity to take Anime Devta forward emerged, the threads connected.
To Anil, it felt as though Mahadev had been preparing him for this all along.
When Sameer Sortur visited Kashi, Anil shared the vision. Sameer came on board, seeing AD as his legacy work - an opportunity to build something of lasting cultural meaning.
Together, they took Anime Devta into its next chapter, with Dev continuing to guide the creative direction through the transition.
Anime Devta was born in Kashi.
After an unsuccessful attempt at the Air Force SSB, Dev sat at Manikarnika Ghat, wondering what to do next. In that moment of uncertainty, the idea for Anime Devta took shape.
Kashi is AD’s birthplace and home. With AD Kashi Studio, we are taking those roots deeper.
The spiritual capital of Sanatan Dharma, Kashi brings its vast sacred universe into one living city. Its deities, philosophies and traditions coexist here, alongside centuries of learning in literature, music and art. Nearby Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, connects this land to the wider Buddhist world.
For generations, seekers have come to Kashi with questions - and found teachers, traditions and conversations that opened new ways of understanding.
What better place to create AD’s future?
AD Kashi Studio is being established to develop original IP - characters, stories and collections rooted in this civilisational depth. Being here gives our creative team the opportunity to engage with the knowledge and living traditions behind the worlds we create.
Through a global competition, our planned fellowships will bring emerging anime artists with Sanatan roots from around the world to Kashi for cultural immersion, collaboration and creation. Whether their work inspires future AD projects or remains an independent exploration, it will deepen the dialogue between Sanatan wisdom and anime.
Born in Kashi. Going deeper in Kashi. Creating for the world.
A serial entrepreneur, investor and artist with over 25 years of experience, Anil founded and exited 24x7 Learning and led startup accelerators across India, the UAE and Qatar. His creative studies include the New York Academy of Art and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Based in Kashi, he leads AD’s strategy, brand and creative direction, AD Kashi Studio, AD House and major collaborations.
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A Dubai-based entrepreneur and investor, Sameer brings experience building businesses and partnerships across India, the GCC and international markets. Through SquareCircle Global and Founder Institute GCC, he helped build a portfolio of over 75 startups.
At AD, he leads fundraising, investor relations, US and UAE expansion, Kashi Central and strategic technology partnerships.
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Dev conceived Anime Devta during his engineering studies and built its artwork, visual language, products and early community into a distinctive cultural brand.
He guides the first year’s creative transition, initial collections and artist coordination, before continuing as a long-term adviser - preserving the creative spirit that started AD.
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An entrepreneur and operations leader with over a decade of experience, Jayati built her own skincare business, led 11 VLCC centres across Karnataka and established VLCC Bangladesh. She holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business.
At AD, she leads production, procurement, vendor relationships, inventory, logistics and fulfilment, building the operating systems that support growth.
LinkedIn ↗Apparel is our first canvas. Ahead lies a wider world of comics, animation, collaborations and experiences.
AD Classics brings familiar deities, heroes and epics into our visual language. AD Originals develops original stories and characters, beginning with Kashi Ke Shiv.
Our ambition is a universe people can enter through a design, stay with through a story, and grow to love across generations.
Rooted in Kashi. Created for a new generation. Shared with the world.
Explore our collections ↗COMING WITH OUR PREMIUM COLLECTIONS
We’re building authenticity into our premium garments. Each piece will carry an embedded chip and a unique digital identity linked to a blockchain record, helping you recognise an original AD creation and protecting the work behind it from counterfeits.
Use the embedded chip to check your garment’s authenticity with AD. Its QR code will bring you closer to the design, the character and the story behind the piece you wear.
Beyond authenticity, your garment will offer a direct connection to Anime Devta. A simple scan will help you stay connected with AD and the evolving world of its stories, art and collections.
An original piece of AD. A continuing connection to its universe.
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