Sanjeev Bhaskar is an actor, a comedian, and a UK-based television presenter. He is perhaps best known for his work on the BBC Radio 4 and BBC Two sketch comedy series Goodness Gracious Me but also appeared in the sitcom The Kumars at No. 42. Bhaskar has presented and appeared in a documentary series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, during which he toured India and returned to his ancestral village in what is now Pakistan. 

He played the lead role of Dr. Prem Sharma in The Indian Doctor and recently appeared in many lead episodes of Unforgotten as DI Sunny Khan. In 2009, Bhaskar was appointed Chancellor of the University of Sussex. Bhaskar was appointed an OBE in 2006.

Is Sanjeev Bhaskar Hindu?

Born 31 October 1963, Sanjeev Bhaskar’s parents, Inderjit and Janak Bhaskar, had migrated to the UK after the partition in India. Sanjeev was five years younger than his elder sister, and the family stayed over at their launderette. Both his parents worked hard. Sanjeev started working part-time at the age of 14 years old at Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex. He is a Hindu.

Education

He then went on to get his marketing qualification at Hatfield Polytechnic and shortly thereafter secured a job as a marketing executive at IBM.

Career in Comedy

In short, more into comedy, he allied himself with his old college mate, Nitin Sawhney, in forming a musical comedy double act called The Secret Asians, with whom he began performing in 1996 in what was then still extant, the Tom Allen Arts Centre, East London. This work was featured on a BBC magazine program called Reportage.[citation needed] They also performed extensively at the Watermans Arts Centre with many other acts at a regular Asian comedy night called One Nation Under a Groove. Innit.

Their first major break was performing a show at the Ovalhouse in South London, where, following a glowing review in Time Out magazine by journalist and playwright Bonnie Greer, they were approached by Anil Gupta, the producer of what was to become the BBC sketch series Goodness Gracious Me. In 1994 or 1995, Bhaskar started as a paid performer with Tara Arts, which was a theatre company based in south London.

Film Appearances

Aside from all the British-produced film appearances, he appeared in notable films including:

• • The Guru, Anita and Me

• • Notting Hill

• • A shopkeeper in Yash Raj Films’ Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

• • Yesterday 2019

Musical and Theatre Debut

In 2003, Bhaskar, the Kumars, and Gareth Gates released an official single for Comic Relief, “Spirit in the Sky,” which spent three weeks at number one in the UK Singles and was the second best-selling single of the year. He made his musical theatre début playing King Arthur in Spamalot at the London Palace Theatre in 2008.

BBC Documentary Series

In a BBC series of programs to mark the 60th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan, he filmed a BBC documentary series, India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, with director Deep Sehgal that was shown in August 2007. The BBC says this included “an emotional journey” to his father’s ancestral home, now in Pakistan.

Sanjeev Bhaskar Books

Sanjeev Bhaskar is an accomplished author known for his insightful and humorous storytelling. His book, India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, inspired by his BBC series, delves into the complexities of modern India, blending personal anecdotes with historical and cultural insights. Bhaskar’s writing showcases his wit, charm, and deep connection to his heritage, making his works both entertaining and thought-provoking.

His first book, India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, based on the documentary series, became a Sunday Times bestseller in 2007. He appeared in a Channel 4 documentary series called The House That Made Me. In 2010, the production Nutopia rebuilt his childhood home and reacquainted him with childhood heroes.

What Else has Sanjeev Bhaskar Been in?

He also penned for and acted in the ITV sitcom Mumbai Calling and the UK tour of the hit American improv show Totally Looped. He also presented Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review on 31 October 2014, filling in for the usual presenter, Simon Mayo, on the BBC flagship film show. He played the main character in the online animation Rajesh Finesse in 2014.

He leads the lead roles of DI Sunny Khan from 2015 until the present, in Season 5, 2023, in the TV cold case mystery drama series Unforgotten. He was confirmed to feature in the adaptation of the Netflix series based on The Sandman in January 2021. Featured in the 2022 television series of Inspector Singh novels adaptation, an adaptation that will portray novels in about the novel lead character role.

Guest appearances in TV Shows

• • Desert Island Discs

• • BBC Radio 4

• • BBC’s Top Gear

• • BBC Radio 4 I’ve Never Seen Star Wars

• • Would I Lie To You?

Awards and Honours

• • In 2003, Bhaskar was named on The Observer’s list of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy

• • In 2005, Bhaskar was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List.

• • On 23 February 2009, he was appointed chancellor of the University of Sussex, and he was formally installed at the university’s summer graduation ceremony on 22 July 2009.

• • In April 2015 he was awarded an Outstanding Achievement in Television at The Asian Awards.

• • On 26 July 2019, Bhaskar was conferred an honorary doctorate from the University of Sussex after ten years as chancellor.

Is Meera Syal still married to Sanjeev Bhaskar?

In January 2005 he married comedian Meera Syal in Lichfield, Staffordshire. He has a son, Shaan, born on 2 December 2005, at the Portland Hospital. The couple is still together and is living a happily married life.

Personal Life

In February 2009, Bhaskar and other celebrities signed an open letter to The Times protesting over the trial of leaders of the Baháʼí Faith then being held in Iran. He is a Liverpool Football Club Supporter In the run-up to the 2010 general election, Bhaskar was one of 48 celebrities who signed a letter warning against Conservative Party policy towards the BBC.