Global Indian Creatives

We hear from actor Nitin Ganatra OBE - who you may know as Masood from Eastenders, Mr Kohli in Bride and Prejudice, and Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Nitin’s career spans TV, film and theatre - winning ‘Best Onscreen Partnership’ alongside Nina Wadia at the 2009 British Soap Awards and awarded an OBE in 2022. In this final episode, Nitin shares insi...

This week features the story of the multi–award-winning composer and producer Nitin Sawhney CBE. His career spans film scores - including Mowgli for Netflix - albums, TV shows including Human Planet, and live performances. He holds numerous accolades - among them over 20 international awards, a CBE, an Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award, and 7 Honorary Doctorates. Nitin’s work has captivated...

Nihal Arthanayake’s wide-ranging career has seen him as a radio DJ, music promoter, author and radio presenter across a range of mainstream platforms. Nihal Arthankayake who is of Sri Lankan descent, has been at the forefront of supporting artists from the Indian subcontinent in Britain. He’s played a key role in shaping the future for Indian creatives in Britain, from launching Bombay Bronx, whic...

Amish Tripathi is amongst the fastest-selling authors in Indian publishing history. He has written 12 books - both fiction and non-fiction - and has sold millions of copies. Amish Tripathi is best known for his mythological and historical fiction, with stories that bring India’s ancient legends to life in modern ways. He is best known for The Shiva Trilogy and Ram Chandra Series. His podcast ‘Immo...

This week, we are really delighted to be joined by presenter, broadcaster and DJ, Harpz Kaur. A familiar voice to many from her time on the BBC Asian Network Breakfast Show, Harpz Kaur presented CBBC’s Saturday Mash-up for two years and hosted a range of TV programmes for the BBC’s Red Button including ‘Radio 1’s Big Weekend’ and ‘Asian Network Live’. In this sincere interview, Harpz Kaur shares h...

Naroop Jhooti’s journey began on music video sets before moving on to major campaigns with global brands which include Adidas and Puma. From building a studio from the ground up, he is now co-founder of the content & strategy agency, Back The Brave. In 2014, he launched ‘The Singh Project’ with Amit Amin, a collection of 35 portraits celebrating the identity of British Sikh men - becoming a bo...

British Indian music producer Rishi Rich is known as one of the trailblazers of the British Asian music scene. From bhangra tracks to Hindi remixes and with the fusion of Indian music styles with R&B music , Rishi Rich is regarded as one of the pioneers of British Asian music. His ‘Rishi Rich Project’ saw him create music with the likes of international star Jay Sean, who he saw successes like...

Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE began his career as an actor in the much admired sitcom “Goodness Gracious Me,” which took audiences by storm in the 1990s for its comedic nature and Asian representation. His career spans a wide range of genres and mediums such as theatre, television, and literature. Sanjeev Bhaskar was awarded the Officer of the Order of theBritish Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List in...

Kabir Bedi is one of India's most famous international actors, with a career that spans from Bollywood to Hollywood across multiple mediums including films, television, theatre, and radio.  Kabir Bedi has acted in over 60 Bollywood films and was the first Indian to feature in a James Bond movie. He also starred in The Bold and the Beautiful, said to be the second most-watched television show i...

How do you build a global brand? In this episode, we spotlight a creative force in the hair and wellness space: entrepreneur Akash Mehta. As the co-founder and CEO of Fable & Mane, Akash has blended the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern haircare, creating a brand rooted in Indian heritage and powered by plant-based ingredients. Before launching Fable & Mane, Akash held digital leaders...

When was the first time you saw your story on stage? Pravesh Kumar MBE has made it his mission to share stories from the British Asian diaspora so they are heard, as well as making audiences feel seen. Pravesh is founder and director of Rifco Theatre Company and has spent over two decades sharing the stories of British Asians on stage through plays, comedies and musicals. Born and raised in Slough...

Imagine moving between cultures and still feeling a sense of belonging. That was the case for the award-winning actress Nina Wadia OBE who is best known for her roles in the hit sketch show Goodness Gracious Me and as Zainab Masood in EastEnders . She has won the Best Comedy Performance and Best Onscreen Partnership at the British Soap Awards . Nina Wadia spent her childhood across continents befo...

What does it take to create a career from going viral online? Comedian Parle Patel has earned a loyal online following from his comedy sketches capturing his experiences as a British Asian Gujarati.  In 2015, he was awarded ‘Best Online Channel’ at the Asian Media Awards and has extended his comedic skills and sketches to theatre stages, by acting as Mrs Kapoor in ‘Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding’...

For former medical student Jay Sean, one single changed his life. In this episode of the Global Indian Creatives Podcast, the singer from West London reflects on his journey and reaching to success, where he is now considered as one of the most successful male UK urban artists in US chart history. Jay Sean made history as the first British Asian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100 with his sing...

How does someone go from thinking acting isn’t a career option open to them, to becoming one of the most acclaimed actors in the country? In this first episode of the Global Indian Creatives Podcast , writer, actor and author, Meera Syal CBE opens up about her journey and shares her message about finding your voice in an industry.  Meera started life in New Delhi and upon coming to Britain has del...

Welcome to the Global Indian Creatives podcast - an interview series that showcases inspiring journeys through prolific voices of creatives who have helped shape the narrative for future generations of creatives across Britain and beyond. This series is brought to you by multi award-winning presenter & journalist Anila Dhami and pianist & composer Rekesh Chauhan BEM .