Sanjeev Bhaskar
Sanjeev Bhaskar
Sanjeev Bhaskar, OBEis a British comedian, actor and broadcaster, best known for his work in the BBC Two comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and as host of The Kumars at No. 42. He also presented and starred in a documentary series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar in which he travelled to India and visited his ancestral home in today's Pakistan. Bhaskar's acting roles include the lead role of Dr. Prem Sharma in The Indian Doctor and a main role as...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth27 June 1961
people theatre television
Theatre has always been better disposed to colourblind casting than telly or film. Given that most television is contemporary, and it reaches 56 million people, I am disappointed there still isn't more representation.
hard-work parent culture
Both my parents were migrant workers who came to the U.K. in the Fifties to better themselves. The culture I grew up in was to work hard, save hard and to look after your family.
dad issues dying
I have issues with inheritance tax, particularly coming from a migrant family. My dad has worked incredibly hard all his life, so it seems odd to me that someone who has gone through that experience and has managed to save then gets taxed for dying.
school kids way
I was far too embarrassed to share the experience of Indian food at school. As a kid, you're desperate to fit in, to assimilate in some way, and everything about me stood out.
drama challenges schedules
Good drama, challenging drama - and comedy for that matter - has a place in the daytime schedule.
believe doctors sticks
I am officially a doctor, and believe it or not, I can save lives and tune certain instruments and can beat peasants with a stick.
blood giving cash
It is better to give blood but receive cash than the other way around.
ideas continents five
'The Kumars'... played on five continents, and even when I came up with the idea, I was slightly surprised that no one else had.
parent culture beef
There are occasions when I've had beef, but I generally tend to avoid it, as a nod towards my parents' culture.
gloves down-and remember
During an early performance of 'Spamalot,' I left my regal gloves in the fridge to cool down and didn't remember them until I was on stage. They needed to be thawed overnight.
video might fatness
I might do a fitness video. Actually, more of a fatness video.
both came family fifties grew hard parents save work workers
Both my parents were migrant workers who came to the U.K. in the Fifties to better themselves. The culture I grew up in was to work hard, save hard and to look after your family.
character writing black
I sense a kind of fear of writing black or Asian characters from non-ethnic writers, who perhaps feel that they don't know the culture and therefore can't write about it. By and large, if there's an Asian character, I might get a call. But if the character is called 'Philip,' the chances are I won't.
thinking terrible defence
I make terrible jokes every time I go into a hospital. I think it's a defence mechanism.