Sanjeev Bhaskar is best known for his role as DI Sunny Khan in ITV’s Unforgotten. But away from the cameras, the actor has a very different life with his famous wife
Sanjeev Bhaskar returns as the adored Sunny Khan in ITV’s gripping drama Unforgotten. The new series kicks off with a gruesome find at Whitney Marsh, where suspected human remains call Sunny to the scene.
Analysis indicates that the body had been dismembered before being dumped, adding intrigue and darkness to the show’s opening.
At the age of 61, Bhaskar stands out as a seasoned British actor with roots tracing back to India after its partition. He grew up above their family launderette in Middlesex, Bhaskar, along with his older sister.
His academic journey led him through a marketing degree from Hatfield Polytechnic, but it was the call of comedy, not commerce, that captured his heart. He teamed up with an old college friend, Nitin Sawhney, to form the musical comedy duo The Secret Asians.
This pivot marked the start of a successful on-screen career, with memorable roles in Goodness Gracious Me, Mumbai Calling, and Inspector Singh Investigates. Nationally celebrated for his talents, Bhaskar has been adorned with numerous awards over the years, reports the Express.
In 2005, he received an OBE, a testament to his accomplishments. Discussing the honour with The British Blacklist, Bhaskar reflected: “My life wasn’t terrible the day before I got it, so it wasn’t suddenly that it made my life better.”
He continued: “It didn’t mean I got more work, there is no money and it’s not like you get a free toaster, or something practical.
“It doesn’t even mean I’m particularly good at what I do or better at what I do. But it was in recognition of my parents and that generation.”
Referring to the resilience of early immigrants, Sanjeev Bhaskar highlighted their challenges: “The generation that came here and had to withstand the brunt of racism, the brunt of exclusion.”
His talented wife, Meera Syal, hasn’t gone unnoticed either as she received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2015. Renowned English comedian, writer, and actress, Meera Syal first gained widespread recognition as part of the team behind Goodness Gracious Me.
She’s also celebrated for her roles in The Kumars at No. 42 and Beautiful People.
Adding to her impressive accolades, in 2023 she was honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship. Her personal life is as fulfilling as her career; she wed Sanjeev Bhaskar in 2005 after her divorce from Shekhar Bhatia.
Sharing a daughter with Shekhar, Meera and Sanjeev later welcomed their son, Shaan, into the world in December 2005.