Born and raised in Nagpur, Janhavi started training when she was five years old. She received her initial training in Hindustani vocal music from Dr Usha Parkhi and continued receiving guidance from her until 2005. Janhavi’s parents noticed her keen interest and singing skills, and they decided to move Janhavi to Pune to train in advanced music.

In 2005, Janhavi got the opportunity to learn from the legendary artist from the Gwalior Gharana, the late Vidushi Veena Sahasrabuddhe. Under Veena Tai’s tutelage, Janhavi trained for eight years in Khayal Gaayaki. She also gave performances of Khayal in many renowned music festivals and platforms, including The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, Dadar-Matunga Cultural Centre, Mumbai, Saptak Yuva Mahotsav, Nagpur, Nandan Mehta Smriti Mahotsav, Ahmedabad, to name a few.

Training in Dhrupad brought a turning point in Janhavi’s musical journey. In 2014, the renowned masters of Dhrupad, the Gundecha Brothers, accepted Janhavi as their disciple. Learning for seven years at the gurukul, also known as the Dhrupad Sansthan in Bhopal, Janhavi received extensive training in Dhrupad singing from the Padma Shri Gundecha Brothers. At the gurukul, Pandit Akhilesh Gundecha, the internationally acclaimed Pakhawaj master, introduced Janhavi to the Taal system followed in Dhrupad style.

Janhavi Phansalkar has performed extensively in India and the USA, and she has also given many lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops across the USA. As a full-time professional, Janhavi is devoted to teaching and performing Dhrupad. Apart from her solo performances, she has also been a part of the all-women Dhrupad Trio ‘The Dhrupad Sisters’ and fellow artists Amita Sinha Mahapatra and Anuja Borude.