Sanjeev Bhaskar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE
Bhaskar in 2015
Born	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 OBE (born 31 October 1963) is a British actor, comedian, and television presenter. He is well-known for his funny roles. He starred in the BBC comedy shows Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42.

Sanjeev also hosted a documentary series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar. In this show, he traveled to India and visited his family's old home in what is now Pakistan. He has also taken on serious acting roles. These include playing Dr. Prem Sharma in The Indian Doctor and DI Sunny Khan in Unforgotten. In 2009, Sanjeev became the head of the University of Sussex. He was given an OBE award in 2006. This award recognizes his great work.

Early Life and Education

Sanjeev Bhaskar was born on October 31, 1963. His parents, Inderjit and Janak Bhaskar, moved to the UK. They came after the partition of India, when India and Pakistan became separate countries. Sanjeev's older sister was born five years before him.

His family lived above their laundrette in Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex. His parents worked very hard. Sanjeev started working part-time when he was 14 years old. He was raised in the Hindu faith.

He studied marketing at Hatfield Polytechnic. This school is now called the University of Hertfordshire. After graduating, he got a job as a marketing executive at IBM.

Career Highlights

Sanjeev soon realized he loved comedy more than marketing. He teamed up with an old college friend, Nitin Sawhney. They started a musical comedy group called The Secret Asians. They first performed in 1996. Their show was even featured on a BBC program.

They also performed at the Watermans Arts Centre. They were part of a regular Asian comedy night. Their big break came after a good review in Time Out magazine. This led them to meet Anil Gupta, who produced the BBC show Goodness Gracious Me.

In 1994 or 1995, Sanjeev got his first paid acting job. It was with Tara Arts, a theater company in South London.

Film Roles

Sanjeev has acted in many British films. These include The Guru and Anita and Me. He also had a very small role in Notting Hill. He made a quick appearance as a shop owner in the Indian film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. In 2019, he had a big role in the movie Yesterday. In this film, he and his wife, Meera Syal, played a married couple.

Music and Stage

In 2003, Sanjeev, along with the Kumars and Gareth Gates, released a song for Comic Relief. The song was "Spirit in the Sky." It was number one on the UK Singles chart for three weeks. It was also the second best-selling song of that year. In 2008, Sanjeev performed in a musical for the first time. He played King Arthur in Spamalot at London's Palace Theatre.

Documentaries and TV Shows

For the 60th anniversary of India and Pakistan's independence, Sanjeev filmed a BBC documentary. It was called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar. It aired in August 2007. The BBC said it included "an emotional journey" to his father's old home in Pakistan. His first book, also called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar, became a bestseller in 2007.

He also appeared in a Channel 4 documentary called The House That Made Me. This show recreated his childhood home. It also introduced him to people from his youth. Sanjeev wrote and starred in the ITV comedy show Mumbai Calling. He also toured the UK with the American improv show Totally Looped.

In 2014, Sanjeev hosted Kermode and Mayo's Film Review on BBC Radio. He also voiced the main character in an online animation called Rajesh Finesse. From 2015 to 2023, he played DI Sunny Khan in the mystery series Unforgotten. In 2021, he was cast in the Netflix show The Sandman. In 2022, he played the main character in a TV series based on the Inspector Singh novels.

Guest Appearances

Sanjeev Bhaskar at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2024

Sanjeev has been a guest on several popular shows. In October 2008, he was on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. In 2003, he appeared on the BBC's Top Gear. He drove a Suzuki Liana around their test track. In March 2010, he was on the BBC Radio 4 comedy show I've Never Seen Star Wars. On July 23, 2010, he was a guest on the BBC comedy game show Would I Lie To You?.

Awards and Recognition

In 2003, The Observer newspaper named Sanjeev Bhaskar as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. In 2005, he was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was part of the New Year Honours List.

On February 23, 2009, he was chosen as the head of the University of Sussex. He officially started this role on July 22, 2009. In April 2015, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at The Asian Awards. On July 26, 2019, the University of Sussex gave him an honorary doctorate. This was to celebrate his ten years as their chancellor.

Personal Life

In January 2005, Sanjeev Bhaskar married comedian Meera Syal. They got married in Lichfield, Staffordshire. They have a son named Shaan, who was born on December 2, 2005.

In February 2009, Sanjeev and other entertainers wrote an open letter. It was published in The Times newspaper. They spoke out against the trial of leaders of the Baháʼí Faith in Iran. Sanjeev is also a big fan of Liverpool Football Club.

Filmography

Film

Key

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Television

• The Way It Is (2000) as various characters
• Goodness Gracious Me: Back Where They Came From (2001) as various characters
• Comic Relief 2003 (2003) as Sanjeev Kumar
• Celebration's Advertisement (2004) – as himself
• L'Entente Cordiale (2006) as Commander Bashir
• India with Sanjeev Bhaskar (2007) as himself
• Dawn French's Boys Who Do Comedy – as himself

Written Works

• Goodness Gracious Me (1998)
• The Kumars at No. 42 (2001–06)
• Mumbai Calling (2007–08)

Composed Works

• Goodness Gracious Me (1998)
• Mumbai Calling Pilot Episode (2007)

Stage Performances

• Art (2002) Whitehall Theatre, London, as Yvan
• Spamalot (2008) Palace Theatre, London, as King Arthur
• Totally Looped (2009) UK Tour

See also

In Spanish: Sanjeev Bhaskar para niños

• British comedy