Sanjeev Bhaskar is an actor, comedian and television presenter, perhaps best known for his roles in comedy shows Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42, as well as the drama series, Unforgotten.
Sanjeev Bhaskar's early life
Sanjeev was born on 31 October 1963 in Ealing, London to Inderjit and Janak Bhaskar. His parents came to the UK after the partition of India in search of economic security. Sanjeev grew up in a flat over his parents' launderette in Hounslow, Middlesex.
Sanjeev Bhaskar's acting career
West London-born Sanjeev knew from an early age he wanted to be a comedian. It wasn't a career choice favoured by his parents, however, who encouraged him to continue his education. A degree from the University of Hertfordshire followed by a short stint in marketing convinced the budding funnyman he'd feel more comfortable in the world of comedy, though.
He joined forces with close pal Nitin Sawhney to form a double act, and not long after landed a role in the new BBC series Goodness Gracious Me. The programme started life on the radio in 1996, and was adapted for TV just two years later. From that point, Sanjeev's TV career went from strength to strength.
In 2001, he was given his own talk show based on the fictional character Sanjeev Kumar in The Kumars At No 42, and roles in Notting Hill, The Guru and Anita And Me followed. But it was 2005 which proved a high point when the actor received an OBE in the New Year Honours List.
Sanjeev isn't just known for his comedy roles, however. In 2010, he landed the starring role in BBC medical drama, The Indian Doctor, and has since featured in the ITV crime drama, Unforgotten, and Netflix's 2022 series, The Sandman.
Sanjeev Bhaskar's personal life
In 2005, Sanjeev married his Anita And Me co-star Meera Syal. The couple welcomed their first child, Shaan, later that year.
