AKSHAY KUMAR ON HIS HOUSEFULL JOURNEY AND WHY THE LATEST IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS SO FAR
by ASJAD NAZIR
WHEN Akshay Kumar did the first Housefull movie, he was convinced they were onto a winner and its massive success led to three further films in the franchise, including the latest instalment.
Housefull 4 is the most ambitious in the series as it sets the comedy mayhem across two time periods and has another all-star cast. Akshay is clearly in love with the comedy series
and signalled his intention to carry on returning for further films in the fun franchise.
Not surprisingly, he was in good spirits when Eastern Eye caught up with him to discuss the Housefull journey and latest film.
Why do you think the Housefull franchise has been so successful?
I feel the success is down to memorable characters and moments in the film. Who can ever forget Chunkey Pandey as Aakhri Pasta, who is an indispensable part of the franchise. (Laughs) He is the pasta to our plate of sauce. Also our producer Sajid Nadiadwala has been a part of the film since the inception and given us full liberty to experiment with the script and to be as crazy as we wanted. In a weird way, our craziness is something the audiences related to as I think we have helped bring out their lighter side. They’ve enjoyed each of the Housefull films and kept asking for more, which is what makes it one of the biggest comedy franchises in the country.
What has been your favourite memory on Housefull journey?
Working on all Housefull films have been fun. It’s actually an internal joke between Sajid and me, that whenever I feel like I need a vacation I tell him let’s make a Housefull. It’s my way of having a good time. Plus we always shoot a schedule in London, which is always a good idea. Each time I come here, the city has so much to offer. I don’t remember how many films Riteish (Deshmukh) and I have worked together in, but he is more than a co-actor and a very close friend, who has been on the journey with me.
You once again have a massive ensemble cast, including Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde, Kriti Kharbanda and a host of cameos from actors such as Rana Dagubatti joining you and Riteish. How does Housefull 4 compare to the other three?
All the Housefull films are a comedy of errors. The context is different, but we have kept the inherent comedy of errors element and entertainment quotient constant across the films. Housefull 4 is different as we have experimented with reincarnation comedy, which is a genre that has never been explored in Indian cinema. We’re playing dual roles; one from the 1419 era and the other in present-day 2019, so let’s just say there’s double the comedy!
Tell us about the film and the characters you play?
The film is a story of six lovers parted because of an evil conspiracy in 1419, and they cross paths again in 2019. In the present life, the three men fall in love with the wrong women and are about to marry their sisters-in-law. However, history repeats itself, and the three couples land up in Sitamgarh, where it all began. That’s what the film is about! It will confuse you, put you on a laughing riot and take you through the grandeur of 1419 with a spark of 2019. All of us play double roles; my first character is called Bala, while my second is a London-based barber called Harry.
How do you approach a film where you have more than one character?
Comedy is more about spontaneity and comic timing. That’s the most important
thing and something integral to both my characters, 1419 Bala and 2019 Harry. But they’re both very distinct characters, and it often felt like I’m working on two different films, two different characters and in two different eras.
What is your favourite moment in the movie?
The film is full of hilarious moments, which I believe will have the audience falling off their seats. Enacting them was an incredible experience, and I cannot really choose one as a favourite. But if I had to choose then it would be shooting for the song, Shaitaan Ka Saala. It’s just so over the top, mad to another level and all about having fun. Acting in 1419 was super fun with the grandeur of the sets, palatial palaces and amazing costumes along with my bold and bald avatar.
You have a great gift for making people laugh, what is the secret of good comedy?
Thank you! As easy as it looks, comedy is undoubtedly one of the most difficult genres and
especially if a film is an out and out comedy because you have to keep up the tempo. What works for me is that I try not to try too hard while doing my scenes, be it drama, romance, action or comedy. However, a lot of credit goes to my co-actors and director. It is all about having the right comic timing, and if we all work in tandem it translates to an exceptional outcome on screen.
Which of your comedy films have you enjoyed?
I have spent a large part of my career doing comedies, so it would be unfair for me to pick the best from a brilliant bunch of films. From Hera Pheri to Bhool Bhulaiya to the Housefull franchise, all the films I have done have been thoroughly enjoyed by my audiences, which is my biggest reward.
Who is the funniest person you know in real life?
Well, the one and only Mrs Funnybones (Twinkle Khanna), who I happen to be married to. She also happens to be the funniest woman in the country and probably, the planet!
Will there be a Housefull 5?
I really hope so! Like I said I it’s a film, which is like a vacation for me, and who doesn’t like vacations? In fact, we have an idea also for the next one. We were discussing an idea about bringing together the cast across all instalments. It would be like comedy avengers.
Why should we watch Housefull 4?
Well, it’s not often you get to have laugh-out-loud moments from the 14th and 21st century in one film! Housefull 4 is one film where you can bring your entire house to the cinema. It’s a movie you can watch with your family. There’s a big dose of confusion, humour, belly shaking and side-splitting laughs. I mean, who would want anything else, but this Diwali treat?
The tidal wave of top Indian stand-up stars touring the UK continues with upcoming shows by Shraddha Jain this July. The hugely popular comedian – who has over a million Instagram followers – will perform her family-friendly show Aiyyo So Mini Things at The Pavilion, Reading (4), the Ondaatje Theatre, London (5), and The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham (6). The 90-minute set promises an entertaining take on the mundane and uproarious aspects of everyday life.
Shraddha Jain
MEMOIR NIGHT Acclaimed author Arundhati Roy will mark the publication of her hotly anticipated memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me with a live event at London’s Cadogan Hall on September 4. The Booker Prize-winning author of The God of Small Things will reflect on her life and work in what promises to be one of the year’s most compelling interview-based events. The evening will also include an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions.
Arundhati Roy
SPECIAL AUTHOR SELFIE Acclaimed author Onjali Q Rauf shared this great photo with historian William Dalrymple from the recent Hay Festival. What made this snap extra special is that they delivered Eastern Eye newspaper’s best two books of 2024. While Rauf wrote the year’s best fiction, The Letter With The Golden Stamp, Dalrymple delivered the greatest non-fiction book of 2024, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. Both brilliant books are highly recommended.
William Dalrymple and Onjali Q Rauf
DREAM TEAM WINS AGAIN Producing power couple Sargun Mehta and Ravie Dubey have scored another success with their latest release, Saunkan Saunkne 2. The Punjabi comedy sequel received critical acclaim and performed well at the box office. Actress Mehta was especially praised for her dynamic double role opposite Ammy Virk and Nimrat Khaira This latest triumph adds to the growing list of achievements for the husband-and-wife team, who also run the entertainment platform Dreamiyata Dramaa. The YouTube channel, now nearing 1.4 million subscribers, continues to produce popular original TV serials.
Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta
THE YOUTUBE DUMP One recent decision that made little sense was quietly dumping the 2023 Pakistani film Money Back Guarantee onto YouTube. With streaming platforms seemingly buying anything and a wide range of video-on-demand services available, the political satire heist comedy – headlined by Fawad Khan – surely deserved better. YouTube is typically a last resort when all other options fail. What made the move even more baffling was the near total lack of promotion, leaving most film fans unaware that it was available to watch for free. Unsurprisingly, it generated little buzz or interest – another example of why Pakistani cinema is in the doldrums.
Money Back Guarantee
LITTLE FILM BUZZ Despite a glitzy world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Indian film Homebound has failed to make a meaningful impact. Unlike other festival favourites, it received little coverage from global media, prompting producers to share handpicked audience reviews instead. This meaningful movie with a message has also struggled to stand out due to its ill-judged title. Not only does the English-language title alienate core Hindi-speaking audiences, it is identical to a 2021 British horror film that was widely savaged by critics. Several other films and TV shows with the same or similar name have appeared in the past 15 years, making it even harder for the film – starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa – to find visibility.
Homebound
DOOMED DUTT BIOPIC Recent reports suggest a biopic on legendary Bollywood actor and filmmaker Guru Dutt is in the works. This is not the first time a film based on his life has been discussed, but like earlier attempts – including those centred on icons such as Meena Kumari and Madhubala – the project has yet to materialise. The reason is clear: telling an honest story would require confronting the darker aspects of their lives, making it difficult to secure life rights from those involved. Bollywood also has a tendency to whitewash difficult truths, which can compromise the integrity of such projects and limit their commercial appeal. If a truly candid account of Dutt’s life were ever made, many film fans might find it hard to forgive the way he reportedly treated his wife, acclaimed singer Geeta Dutt.
Guru Dutt in Chaudhvin Ka Chand
SARITA STUNS IN NEW SERIES The recently launched third season of Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That has received more positive reviews than its previous seasons. Sarita Choudhury’s glamorous realtor remains the standout new character, continuing to make such an impact that many feel she deserves far more screen time. The 58-year-old British actress is simply brilliant in the sassy role and looked stunning as she joined fellow cast members for a recent photocall in Paris. She has seamlessly filled the space left by Kim Cattrall, and her performance is so compelling that a spin-off series focused solely on her character would be hugely entertaining.
Sarita Choudhury
DILJIT’S DETECTIVE DUD Bollywood film Detective Sherdil is set to premiere on ZEE5 on June 20, following a high-profile announcement. Despite being headlined by Diljit Dosanjh and Diana Penty, one major red flag suggests this quirky detective mystery-comedy may fall flat: it is being released directly to a streaming platform, bypassing cinemas entirely. This often signals a lack of confidence in the project. ZEE5 is typically seen as a last resort when bigger platforms like Netflix or Amazon decline interest – which further works against the film. Although whodunnits are trending globally, the genre remains underdeveloped in Indian cinema, and that adds to the low expectations surrounding this release.
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THE US president Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk went to war on social media.
Geert Wilders brought the Dutch government down after less than a year. Nigel Farage scrambled to hold his Reform team together.
Populism is a potent political force – but this week demonstrated the power of populist politicians to destabilise themselves too.
A Trump-Musk break-up always was more a question of when, than if, given the egos involved. Musk criticised Trump for his large spending bill. Trump threatened retribution against Musk’s companies – knocking a sixth off the Tesla share price. Musk declared Trump would not be president without his money. “Such ingratitude,” he tweeted. Trump acolyte Steve Bannon declared that he wanted to see Musk deported.
Musk is the Citizen Kane of our times. Even having the biggest media megaphone of the age and the highest spending did not guarantee political success. Trump came to see Musk as a political liability, as growing mistrust of the erratic billionaire’s motives offset the power of his money.
Musk is much more toxic in Britain than America. That story can be told in three words – familiarity breeds contempt. Most people had no firm opinion of Musk before he bought Twitter three years ago. YouGov shows disapproval of Musk rocketing from 60 per cent to 70 per cent to 80 per cent over the past year.
Most British Twitter/X users feel he made the platform worse. No other platform did so much to amplify the misinformation and hatred that fuelled the racist riots. Reform voters had been the only pro-Musk segment post-riots, but Musk’s attack on Farage for refusing to embrace Tommy Robinson split the Reform voters against him too.
Twitter/X is a tinderbox – the irresponsibility of its ownership exacerbates the real and present danger it presents during any future flashpoint. Yet Musk’s relationship with Trump was a significant impediment to tackling this. The platform uses its relationship with the Trump administration as a shield, threatening the UK or EU governments if they intervened. The Trump-Musk break-up could offer a new opportunity to at least make the platform uphold its duties to remove unlawful content. It is awash with rape and deportation threats – which the Twitter/X’s broken complaints system usually defends. That is a breach of the platform’s legal duties to provide an equal service to women or to ethnic minorities.
Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf
The government recently announced its preferred candidate for the EHRC [Equality and Human Rights Commission] chair, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, who will now face parliamentary committee hearings. MPs should ask her whether the regulators’ legal powers apply when major platforms breach their duties.
The Washington social media war of words was in stark contrast to how Nigel Farage handled a twitterstorm within the Reform party.
His party chair, Zia Yusuf, declared it “dumb” for the party’s new MP to be asking the prime minister last week to ban the burqa. Yusuf then quit, declaring that trying to make Farage prime minister was no longer a good use of his time.
Farage gave a strikingly unTrumpian response. He empathised with the racism that Yusuf has faced as a Muslim public voice – though attributing much of it to ‘Indian bots’ deflected attention from the racism within the online right.
Farage’s emollience was rewarded. Yusuf declared his resignation was a mistake. He even implausibly claimed he would probably vote to ban the burqa himself. He told the Today programme that Reform would deport 1.2 million illegal migrants – a patently impossible pledge, even if there were that many people without secure legal status. Yusuf moving towards the party’s base might signal an ambition to be a Reform general election candidate.
Farage handled the crisis with skill: reinforcing his rejection of the overtly racist fringe, while hardening the party line on integration. Yusuf was not offered his old job as party chair back. He will volunteer, instead, as chair of a “DOGE” [Department of Government Efficiency] taskforce, named in tribute to Musk.
Reform have talked up Yusuf as having “professionalised” the party from a low base. Yet the DOGE initiative could hardly have begun more unprofessionally. Yusuf declared a ‘gotcha’ moment – claiming to have found Kent County Council spending £87 million a year on recruitment advertising. This was an absurdly false claim. Former Kent County Council leader, Roger Gough, pointed out that Yusuf had simply not understood the document. Kent was raising revenue by hosting a national framework, yet Yusuf had attributed any possible spending across England as profligacy by the council.
Whether his mistake was unwitting or more cynical, it resonated by confirming the biases of Reform’s supporters. How long it takes Yusuf to retract his mistaken Week One headline claim is now a simple good faith test of whether the DOGE process attempts to be at all credible.
Yusuf is presented by Reform as the professional among populists – that may demonstrate just how untested the party’s credentials to provide a potential government still are.
Sunder Katwala is the director of thinktank British Future and the author of the book How to Be a Patriot: The must-read book on British national identity and immigration.
RANI MAKES RETURNDoctor Who acclaimed actress Archie Panjabi added to her diverse body of work by playing the iconic villain Rani in the recently concluded series of Doctor Who. She reprised the role originally portrayed by Kate O’Mara decades ago. Unfortunately, the series – available on BBC iPlayer – has been plagued by problems and suffered plummeting ratings, largely due to poor storylines. As a result, Archie and fellow cast member Varada Sethu are unlikely to return in future episodes.
Doctor Who
SINDOOR SHOW
Although many interpreted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing sindoor at the recent Cannes Film Festival as a nod to India’s strike on Pakistan, it may have held a more personal meaning. After months of speculation about a possible split from Abhishek Bachchan, the gesture appeared to reaffirm that her marriage remains strong. It followed her recent Instagram post sharing a happy photo with her husband and daughter.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
DEY’S LONDON DATE
Brilliant Indian bassist Mohini Dey will deliver one of this summer’s standout concerts at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London on July 9. She has been unstoppable in recent years – releasing an acclaimed self-titled album in 2023 and collaborating with music legends such as Zakir Hussain, Quincy Jones and AR Rahman, as well as touring North America with Willow Smith. The only female bassist in MusicRadar’s Top 10 Bassists of the 21st Century, she promises a unique musical experience.
Mohini Dey
SHIVALI CASTS A SPELL
After being one of the leading lights of devotional music, Shivali launched a bold new chapter in her artistic journey with the sold-out one-woman show Queen of Wands in London last month. This powerful solo performance brought her spoken word album to life through a dynamic blend of music, poetry, storytelling, immersive visuals and diverse themes. The British talent received a standing ovation for the thought-provoking and relatable show. Shivali said: “The experience was sublime, a different kind of feeling. I discovered I’m allegedly a comedian. It was one woman, but I had the backing of a team that rivals Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. We are just starting conversations to take the show forward – and New York might be the first stop. More will be revealed soon.”
Queen of Wands
DISAPPEARING TV DRAMAS
While most people in India can cope with Pakistani celebrity social media accounts disappearing, the inability to watch drama serials from across the border has not gone down as well. The ongoing conflict has led to streaming platforms and YouTube channels blocking access to episodes of hit Pakistani dramas like Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
Although tech-savvy viewers have found ways around the restrictions, others are being forced to seek alternative shows to binge-watch.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum
DUD-LOOKING HISTORICAL
Riteish Deshmukh has unveiled the first-look poster of his passion project Raja Shivaji, which he is writing, directing, starring in, and releasing in multiple languages.
Unfortunately for him, the historical drama – based on the life of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – features a line-up of past their-prime co-stars that audiences no longer seem interested in, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Genelia Deshmukh and Bhagyashree.
Deshmukh’s inexperience as a filmmaker will only add to the challenges Raja Shivaji faces ahead of its scheduled release on May 1, 2026. The only stone-cold certainty is that – like several recent Bollywood films about historical rulers – it will probably distort facts and lean heavily into jingoism.
Raja Shivaj
JINXED KAIF SISTER
After more than a decade of trying – and failing – to find her footing in Bollywood, it may be time for Isabelle Kaif to read the room. Her 2022 film Time To Dance vanished without a trace, and just as she was supposed to get a long-delayed ‘break’ with the clumsily titled Suswagatam Khushamdeed, that too disappeared. A lack of interest led to the film being quietly pulled from a recent cinema release without explanation. Perhaps the producers finally realised they were throwing good money after bad. Being Katrina Kaif’s younger sister might have opened a few doors for Isabelle, but it clearly has not been enough to turn her into a star. It may be time for her to reconsider her career path entirely – whether that means working behind the scenes or stepping away from Hindi cinema altogether. At the very least, she needs to make smarter choices and find better people to advise her.
Suswagatam Khushamdeed
COPYWOOD KHAN
Promotions for Sitare Zameen Par are in full swing ahead of its release on June 20. Lead star and producer Aamir Khan will be hoping Bollywood audiences avoid watching the Spanish original Campeones, which his comedy-drama is a remake of. That 2018 film – along with its 2023 American remake Champions – is available on streaming platforms.
Social media users have already begun drawing comparisons between the original and scenes from the trailer, which could make it harder for June’s big Bollywood release to succeed. This does not bode well for Khan, who has a lot riding on his not-so-original film after two major failures – Thugs of Hindostan and Laal Singh Chaddha.
Sitare Zameen Par
ARIJIT SET FOR STADIUM SHOW.
Tickets are now available for Arijit Singh’s upcoming concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 5. This landmark event will be the biggest show ever headlined by a South Asian artist outside India – a testament to the singer’s global appeal.
The unassuming star is looking forward to returning to London. He said: “I’m just an ordinary person who happens to sing, and I’m incredibly humbled that I have the opportunity to share my songs and perform in London again. If that means I make history, then I will be very blessed.
“It makes me happy when the world sings my songs with me, and my London fans are the absolute best.” This milestone adds to Arijit’s remarkable list of achievements, including being the most followed artist on Spotify and featuring on Ed Sheeran’s forthcoming single Sapphire. It also marks a major moment for show organisers TCO Group and Vijay Bhola’s Rock On Music.
Arijit Singh
SNEHA SHANKAR IS JUST SENSATIONAL
I was really impressed with Indian Idol 15 finalist Sneha Shankar after watching her make her UK stage debut. The gifted 19-year-old has incredible versatility – ranging from the raw power of Sufi sensation Jyoti Nooran to the gentle finesse of Bollywood music queen Shreya Ghoshal. Although she did not win the reality TV show, her multi-layered vocals could turn her into a future superstar, if paired with the right songs. It is no surprise she secured a lucrative contract with India’s biggest record label, T-Series. She is destined for greatness.
Sneha Shankar
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Priya Mulji with participants at a Thailand retreat
I turned 43 recently, and it was the best birthday of my life. Special for so many reasons. For the first time since my twenties, I spent my birthday abroad. (In case you were wondering – Phuket, Thailand.)
Last year, I impulsively booked myself onto my friend Urvashi’s mind, body and soul expansion experience. Since then, life has taken some unexpected turns – including being made redundant from my day job – so this trip could not have come at a better time.
Before leaving, I was apprehensive. I had never been to East Asia. Would I like it? Would I get on with the other women? Should I really be going on a two-week trip without a job? What vaccinations would I need? Would the street food give me Delhi belly?
I need not have worried. Within the first day, all my fears melted away. The group of women on the trip were inspiring – each there for her own reasons – and across the week, I connected with them in unique and beautiful ways.
We ranged in age from 37 to 53. Some of us were single, others married with grown-up children. Some were high-flying execs, others unemployed.
But there was no sense of hierarchy – no “I’m better than you.” Just acceptance.
It was a trip of firsts. I got up at 5.30am on my birthday to do a four-kilometre mountain hike to see the Big Buddha. I got in a kayak and floated in the middle of the ocean, despite being a terrible swimmer. I took a Thai cooking class and finally learned how to make some of my favourite dishes.
But the biggest lesson from this impactful trip was this: it is so important to find people who bring good energy, who listen without judgment. Surround yourself with those who offer wisdom and support, not force their opinions on you. Who remind you that you are respected. That you are loved.
For anyone feeling lost, unloved, or unsure of how to navigate life, know that your tribe might be out there, waiting to meet you in the most unexpected of places. I found a new sisterhood in just one week. So take a chance. Step out of your comfort zone. Do something you never imagined doing.
I will leave you with the words of Usha, who was on the trip: “We are all devis in our own way.” I dedicate this column to Jaymini, Leena, Nina, Usha, Iram and Rinku – for helping me in ways they may never fully understand.
And to my darling Urvashi, thank you for bringing us all together. You created magic. You gave me the best birthday gift I could ever have asked for.
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Britain faces challenges in changing attitudes around diversity
IT HAS been five years since the biggest anti-racism protests in a generation – but how far did they have a lasting legacy?
The protests across America after the murder of George Floyd spread to Britain too. There was no central organisation, nor a manifesto of demands, as students and sixth formers took to the streets.
This was the time of the Covid pandemic in which two-thirds of NHS staff who had tragically lost their lives were ethnic minorities. But placards declaring “racism is the real pandemic” risked mixing metaphors to deadly effect. So the Covid context reinforced a generational divide.
The UK protests of 2020 were a cross-ethnic movement primarily of black, Asian and white young people – though there were many older armchair supporters. Indeed, a third of ethnic minority Britons felt they had participated, primarily by voicing online support.
The Black British are four per cent of the population, compared to 13 per cent in America – about a quarter of visible minorities in the UK. Most of the larger British Asian group felt supportive of the anti-racism protests too. Cricketer Azeem Rafiq felt it was why his challenge to racism in Yorkshire cricket finally cut through.
The protests mobilised – and polarised. Online arguments were especially heated, but offline conversations could be more thoughtful. Quite a few people were in listening mode that summer.
Britain is not America was the core point for those critical of the protests – yet I found those who took part often quick to acknowledge that. America’s gun problem gave racism in policing a different intensity of urgent threat. But too much focus on transatlantic differences could underpin complacency about real challenges to face up to in Britain too.
Once the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down in Bristol on June 7, history and statues became a central theme. A year later, ahead of Euro 2021, footballers taking the knee became the symbolic focal point.
Boris Johnson’s government commissioned a review of ethnic disparities, but the Sewell report generated a starkly polarised debate with its optimistic counter-narrative about Britain leading the world.
The argument was about language – what it meant to be ‘institutionally racist’ – with the report’s incremental proposals on issues such as curriculum reform, policing data and online hatred barely discussed.
As the pattern of opportunities and outcomes on race in Britain becomes more complex than ever, the politics seems ever more binary. The Tories chose three more leaders – our first Asian prime minister, who preferred that not to be noticed too much; and the party’s first black British leader, a vocal critic of all things ‘woke’.
In opposition, Sir Keir Starmer declared the protests a ‘defining moment’ and issued an awkward photograph of himself taking the knee in his office alongside his deputy leaders.
Efforts to weaponise that image against him fell rather flat.
Labour pledged a new race equality act but tried to say as little as it could about race. The party had an electoral strategy of taking ethnic minorities for granted – a product of its exclusive geographical focus on the people and places who were not already Labour.
Shedding minority votes on both its left and right flank complicated the party’s nascent thinking about whether or how to respond.
In government, the party was reluctant to draw attention to its legislative pledge. It is now consulting on those measures so quietly that very few people have noticed.
Beyond one strong Starmer passage about last summer’s racist riots at the Labour conference, no leading voice in this government has found an appetite or voice to make a substantial argument about race, opportunity or identity in Britain today.
The anti-racism protests galvanised but polarised. It is the identity politics of Donald Trump which set America’s agenda now – ironically taking affirmative action to absurd lengths, but only for deeply unqualified Trump loyalists. Because Britain is not America, most people would reject emulating the Trump effort to repeal any mention of diversity or inclusion here.
But finding forward momentum is more challenging.
Those suspicious of the sincerity of corporate declarations of support for the Black Lives Matter movement felt vindicated by their flipping as the political weather changed.
UK corporations are often seeking to continue work on inclusion while side-stepping polarised political controversies. National charities lag behind the public and private sector.
That patchy response may explain why one institutional legacy of the protests is the effort of high-profile black Britons, such as Lewis Hamilton, Raheem Sterling and Stormzy, to create their own foundations.
Five years on, the legacy can be hard to discern. The core message of the anti-racism protests in Britain was that the progress we have made on race has not met the rising expectations of the next generation.
It will take more confidence among institutions of political, economic and cultural power about how to act as well as talk about race and inclusion – or those rising expectations risk remaining frustratingly unmet.
Sunder Katwala is the director of thinktank British Future and the author of the book How to Be a Patriot: The must-read book on British national identity and immigration.