Sanjeev Bhaskar has returned to his role as Sunny Khan in the new series of Unforgotten, but away from our screens is married to his famous wife, who he fell for during a flight
Unforgotten has returned to our screens with Sanjeev Bhaskar reprising his role as the beloved Sunny Khan.
The new series of the hit ITV drama started with a chilling discovery after suspected human remains were found at Whitney Marsh, leading Sunny to launch an immediate investigation. It soon becomes clear that these remains are not relics of the past; they are the dismembered pieces of a recently dumped body.
Away from the unravelling on-screen investigation, the British actor of Indian heritage, 61, is also known for his roles in ‘The Kumars’, ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘Mumbai Calling’. He’s become a staple in UK entertainment and has earned a place in the pantheon of British TV icons, complete with an OBE.
In his dazzling career, he met his wife, Meera Syal, who is an English comedian, writer and actress. Their work seemingly brought the couple together as it was during a 23-hour flight for a press trip to Australia that ignited their romantic connection. While ‘The Kumars’ was underway, Sanjeev attended the trip with the cast of ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, which he and his wife both starred in.
Speaking to The Guardian, Sanjeev revealed, “We were on such a high – we were being flown first class to promote the show, which had been a hit over there; Meera was releasing her film Anita & Me; and we had just found out that we’d gotten to No 1 on the UK chart with our Comic Relief single with Gareth Gates.”
He continued, “The thing with 23 hours in someone’s company is that you get the raw version of each other – especially me, since I can’t sleep on a plane. I had no filter and Meera was very nice about it. It was an intense period, but that intensity made us both realise that we wanted to hang out with each other more.”
Just like her husband, who she married in 2005, Meera hasn’t gone unnoticed, as she received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2015. She gained fame as part of the team behind ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, and is also known for her roles in ‘The Kumars at No. 42’, along with ‘Beautiful People’. Meera was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship in 2023. The talented actress has a daughter from a previous marriage and, in December 2005, welcomed a son, Shaan, with Sanjeev.
Having worked closely together in the world of TV, Sanjeev jokes that he accepts “she’s just much better” than him at “everything”, before delving into making their relationship work. He told The Guardian, “But it’s key to value the team and to always do what’s best for our partnership, rather than just our individual careers. We’ve tried to tag team when it comes to work, so there was always a parent at home, and I don’t regret turning things down for that.”
