Sanjeev Bhaskar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE
Bhaskar in 2025
Born	(1963-10-31) 31 October 1963 (age 61) Ealing, Middlesex, England
Education	University of Hertfordshire
Occupation	Actor, comedian, television presenter
Years active	1991–present
Notable work	See below
Spouse(s)	Meera Syal ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	1

Sanjeev Bhaskar (born 31 October 1963) is a British actor, comedian, and TV presenter. He is famous for his work on the BBC comedy show Goodness Gracious Me. He also starred in the popular sitcom The Kumars at No. 42.

Bhaskar has also taken on more serious acting roles. He played Dr Prem Sharma in The Indian Doctor and DI Sunny Khan in the crime drama Unforgotten. In 2007, he hosted a TV series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar. In the show, he traveled to India and visited his family's old home in what is now Pakistan.

In 2006, Bhaskar was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work in entertainment. This is a special honor given by the Queen.

Early Life and School

Sanjeev Bhaskar was born in Ealing, a part of London, England. His parents moved to the United Kingdom after the partition of India, when British India was split into two countries. The family lived above the launderette (a public laundry) that they owned.

Bhaskar grew up in Heston, another area of London. He started working part-time when he was 14. After high school, he went to Hatfield Polytechnic, which is now the University of Hertfordshire. He earned a degree in marketing and got a job at the technology company IBM.

Starting a Career in Comedy

Bhaskar soon realized he liked comedy more than marketing. He teamed up with his college friend, Nitin Sawhney, to form a comedy duo called The Secret Asians. Their big break came when a producer saw their show and invited them to be part of a new BBC comedy series. This show became the hit Goodness Gracious Me.

Bhaskar has also appeared in several movies. He had small parts in films like Notting Hill and a bigger role in Anita and Me. In the 2019 movie Yesterday, he and his real-life wife, Meera Syal, played a married couple.

Television and Film Work

Bhaskar at the Asian Awards in 2015

Bhaskar has had a long and successful career on television. He wrote and starred in the sitcom Mumbai Calling. From 2015, he has played the main role of Detective Inspector Sunny Khan in the popular crime drama Unforgotten.

He has also appeared in many other shows. He was in an episode of Doctor Who in 2014 and was cast in the Netflix series The Sandman in 2021. He also lent his voice to characters in animated shows like Thomas & Friends.

In 2003, Bhaskar, along with the cast of The Kumars and singer Gareth Gates, released a song for the charity Comic Relief. Their song, "Spirit in the Sky," was number one on the UK music charts for three weeks.

Honors and Achievements

Bhaskar at a charity soccer match in 2024

Bhaskar's work has earned him many awards and honors. In 2003, The Observer newspaper named him one of the 50 funniest comedians in Britain.

In 2009, he was chosen to be the Chancellor of the University of Sussex. The Chancellor is the formal head of the university. He held this position for ten years. In 2019, the university gave him an honorary doctorate to thank him for his service.

In 2015, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at The Asian Awards.

Personal Life

In 2005, Sanjeev Bhaskar married comedian and actress Meera Syal. They have worked together on several projects, including Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42. They have one son.

Bhaskar is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club. He has also supported social causes. In 2009, he and other celebrities signed a letter to a newspaper to show support for leaders of the Baháʼí Faith who were on trial in Iran.

Before the 2010 general election in the UK, he signed a letter with other celebrities. The letter expressed concern about how the Conservative Party's plans might affect the BBC.

Filmography

Here are some of Sanjeev Bhaskar's most well-known roles in movies and on TV.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Sanjeev Bhaskar para niños

• British comedy