TV ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION, THE KUMARS AT NO. 42
Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE
Since Winning the EMMA Award
Sanjeev Bhaskar is a British Indian Comedian, Actor and Television Presenter who continues to make significant contributions to British entertainment. In 2003, Sanjeev and the Kumars collaborated with Gareth Gates on that year’s official Comic Relief single, which topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks and became the second best-selling single of 2003. Sanjeev went on to star in the British films The Guru and Anita and Me and made a cameo appearance in Yash Raj Films’ Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.
In 2005, Sanjeev was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his services to entertainment. He also authored a best-selling book, “India with Sanjeev Bhaskar,” in 2007, based on his BBC documentary series exploring his ancestral homeland. In 2008, Bhaskar made his musical theatre debut as King Arthur in “Spamalot” at London’s Palace Theatre. Sanjeev also served as Chancellor of the University of Sussex from 2009 to 2019, earning an honorary doctorate upon retirement. His ongoing impact on television was further acknowledged in 2015 when he received the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at the Asian Awards.
In 2022, Sanjeev starred in the Netflix adaptation of “The Sandman,” portraying Cain, a role that introduced him to a wider global audience. Throughout his career, he has used humor to bridge cultural divides, challenge stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive society, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in contemporary British culture.
Background (Before 2002 & 2003)
Sanjeev Bhaskar was born on October 31, 1963, in Ealing, London, to Indian migrant parents from the Punjab region. He grew up in Hounslow, where his father ran a corner shop. Sanjeev studied marketing at Hatfield Polytechnic, now known as the University of Hertfordshire, but eventually moved to comedy. He first gained attention with the comedy duo The Secret Asians alongside his old university friend, Nitin Sawhney, in the early 1990s. Sanjeev’s big break came in 1998 when he co-created and starred in “Goodness Gracious Me,” a groundbreaking British sketch show that humorously explored British Asian identity and cultural clashes. The show ran until 2001 and was a massive hit, making Sanjeev a household name.
Sanjeev followed it up with “The Kumars at No. 42,” in which he played the lovable and awkward host Sanjeev Kumar, who interviewed real-life celebrities while dealing with his eccentric TV family. The show was both a critical and commercial success, winning an International Emmy in 2002 and cementing Sanjeev Bhaskar’s status as a trailblazer in British comedy.
