Ekta Kumar was born in Mumbai to South Indian parents hailing form the coastal city of Mangalore. She speaks four languages: Tulu, Kannada, Hindi and English. She moved to New Zealand in the year 2000 at the age of eight. In her first year in New Zealand, she was diagnosed with Optic Atrophy a permanent eye condition that affects the Optic Nerve causing low vision.

Undaunted by the circumstances, she persevered to study and pursue her goals. With strong support from parents, schools, disability related non-profit organisations and well-wishers, she graduated with a degree in Performing Arts from the Manukau Institute of Technology in 2014. Along with NCEA credits, she put in extra efforts to complete Grade 7 Singing from Trinity College, London. In addition to her qualifications in Western Music, she has a Diploma in Indian Classical Music.

In 2022, she completed an administration course from Open Polytechnic and has joined TANI in their Administration and Communications position. She says, “It’s amazing working for TANI. It truly is an organisation that practices what it believes in. The organisation is culturally and disability inclusive both in the community and in the workplace”. She hopes to gain more experience in this field and advocate for the employment of Asian disabled community in New Zealand.

She is also passing on her musical knowledge to others by teaching Indian classical vocal music for the Swar Sadhana Institute of Indian Classical Music on a casual basis.
She keeps herself active as a singer, actor and voice over artist.  She has performed at community and charitable events for over seventeen years. She volunteers as a voiceover artist at a local radio station V3FM.

In her spare time, she loves to read, watch movies/ acting/modelling and spend quality time with her family (parents, husband and son).