SANJEEV BHASKAR
Sanjeev, 54, returns in the third series of ITV’S crime drama Unforgotten. He first came to fame in sketch show Goodness Gracious Me and lives in London with actor wife Meera Syal and their 12-year-old son, Shaan.
You started out in comedy, whereas Unforgotten is pretty dark. Which genre do you prefer?
I love both and think that Chris Lang – the show’s creator – was probably looking for somebody who could be both deadly serious and also have a bit of comic timing in his armoury. Unforgotten deals with serious subjects: in this series, the discovery of the body of a teenage girl who’s been missing for 20 years. But, as in life, there are moments of humour. It’s nice to feel comfortable with both.
Your character and Nicola’s are a classic screen partnership. Is it fun working together? It certainly is. Nicola’s a delight and we knew within minutes of meeting that we’d be friends. It’s a friendship and working relationship based on respect and affection – pretty much how I also feel about her in real life.
You’ve also got a brilliant working relationship with your wife. Any plans to work together again soon? We’ve actually just spent a few days working on a new movie written by Richard Curtis and directed by Danny Boyle. It’s a musical comedy in which Meera and I play parents of the main character. We used to work together a lot, but it had been a while.
How easy is it to be married to another actor?
There are pluses and minuses. We both work in a profession that can be unstable and full of rejection, but at least we completely understand the world and support each other through the good times and the bad. It helps, too, that Meera’s also a writer. She’s a lot more talented in general. I just ride on her shirt tails!
You’re being modest. Weren’t you awarded an OBE in 2006? [Laughs.] Yes, I was. But then Meera already had the MBE and now has a CBE, too, which is one above mine! But, seriously, getting the OBE was a real honour for me and a joy. It was lovely to take my mum and dad to the palace to see their son being awarded such a wonderful honour by the Queen.
Will your son, Shaan, follow you and Meera into the business?
At the moment he doesn’t seem to have the passionate streak that we had at his age, perhaps because he’s seen the full picture – not just the fun side and the glamour, but also the long hours and insecurity.
Did becoming a father have a big impact on you?
Absolutely. I found it utterly transformative. It made me see the bigger picture and to realise the world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s a responsibility and a privilege to bring another life into the world and to nurture it. For me, it’s also an absolute joy, and I think about that every day.
Unforgotten continues on ITV