Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

BBC icon Alagiah scoops top prize at star-studded ACTAs

The British Asian community’s incredible contribution to creative arts and culture industries were honoured on Friday, June 22, at the annual Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs).

BBC broadcaster George Alagiah won the top award at the third edition of the glittering event that showcases the best of Asian talent and their achievements in the artistic fields, including film, TV, theatre,  music and media.


Hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), publishers of Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat newsweekly, the ceremony was held at London’s glitzy May Fair Hotel.

Musicians Naughty Boy and Anoushka Shankar, actress Meera Syal, actor Sacha Dhawan, presenters Anita Rani and Dr Ranj Singh were among winners on the night.

Now in its third year, the ACTAs saw a total of 17 awards given away on the night, as the spotlight shone on top British Asian achievers in the creative arts.

Alagiah won the coveted top prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts. The Sri Lankan-origin broadcaster was recognised for his career spanning three decades, when he covered the apartheid in South Africa, the genocide in Rwanda and civil unrest in Afghanistan, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Somalia.

Quoting the late Nelson Mandela, Alagiah said: "We must think with our brains, not our blood."

In today's world, parts of which are divided by ideology, the veteran broadcaster noted the Soutth African icon's words could not be more relevant.

Actress and author Meera Syal won the Best Actress in Theatre award for her performance in Annie at the West End. She is  familiar to millions for her work in the BBC hit comedy Goodness Gracious Me, the Kumar's at Number 42 - which explored British Asian culture and was most recently seen on the BBC drama, Split.

Raj Ghatak scooped the prize for Best Actor in Theatre for playing the lead in the Kite Runner, based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini and adapted by Matthew Spangler.

Music producer Naughty Boy, who rose to fame with his debut album Hotel Cabana, scooped the People’s Choice Award, voted for by Eastern Eye readers. The musician has worked with an array of stars, including Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé and most recently with US singer Joe Jonas.

The Editor’s Special Award was given to Anita Rani for presenting the BBC show My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947. It saw Rani visit her parents’ homeland in north India on the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India and Pakistan. Her moving and emotionally charged documentary saw Rani explore the human impact of Partition through the intimate stories of four British families, one of which was her own.

Sacha Dhawan won the Best Actor prize in the Film, TV and Drama category for his lead role in the BBC drama The Boy With the Topknot – a real-life story of a British Asian Sikh boy growing up in Wolverhampton with a father who suffered from mental health issues. The one-off drama was the highest-rated single drama of 2017 and was based on journalist Sathnam Sanghera's novel of the same name.

Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma won the Best Actress prize for her role in the global hit.

There were prizes too for the Science Museum whose Illuminating India exhibition won it the Community Engagement Award. Among its final visitors in its extended season in April were India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prince Charles, during the former’s visit to London for the CHOGM summit.

Sitar player and accomplished Indian classical musician Anoushka Shankar won the music award for her score for Shiraz, a black and white silent film restored by the BFI to mark the 70th anniversary of Indian independence last year.

Waqas Khan, known for his pen and ink works on paper, was awarded the Eastern Eye Award for Arts for his exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery and Aakash Odedra walked away with the award for dance for #JeSuis, a company dance work on the migrant crisis.

The literature prize was given to author Vaseem Khan for his book The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star.

Political advisor turned stand up comedienne Ayesha Hazarika’s State of the Nation show had her winning the comedy award. The show, which debuted last year, provided an honest and humorous take on life behind the scenes at Westminster.

Hazarika also did a a sketch at Friday's event, leaving the audience in stitches.

NHS clinician Dr Ranj Singh, the co-creator and host of the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies series Get Well Soon walked away with the award for the Best Presenter.

Asif Khan’s Combustion, a drama set in Bradford, and featuring the grooming of young girls and the rise of the far right, won the prize for the Best Production, and Pooja Ghai’s work in Lions and Tigers, a look at the lives of ordinary men and women struggling for freedom during the Indian independence movement, saw her being awarded the Best Director honour.

The Best Emerging Artist award was given to Reece Bahia for Thriller Live, a West End musical where he plays Michael Jackson. Bahia also performed She's Outta My Life on the night and said the "intimate"gig was more nerve wracking than singing in front of a West End audience.

Eastern Eye columnist and chair of the ACTA judging panel, Amit Roy, said the awards were a way of “trying to dissolve cultural barriers” between Asians and white Britons.

“We are very lucky to live in such a lovely country which is so rich in the arts. That tells you something about its people,” Roy said.

Among other winners were –

Eastern Eye Award for Arts: Waqas Khan for his exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery

Eastern Eye Award for Dance: Aakash Odedra for #JeSuis

Eastern Eye Award for Literature: Vaseem Khan for The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star

Eastern Eye Award for Comedy: Ayesha Hazarika for the State of the Nation show

Eastern Eye Award for Best Presenter: Dr Ranj Singh for Get Well Soon and Get Well Soon Hospital

Eastern Eye Award for Best Production: Combustion by Asif Khan (AIK Productions in association with Tara Arts)

Eastern Eye Award for Best Director: Pooja Ghai for Lions and Tigers

Eastern Eye Emerging Artist Award: Reece Bahia for Thriller Live

More For You

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Kendrick Lamar and SZA thrill Birmingham crowd with high-energy Grand National Tour show

Kendrick Lamar and SZA light up Birmingham with a dazzling Grand National Tour stop

Highlights:

  • Kendrick Lamar and SZA brought their record-breaking Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night.
  • The three-hour set featured solo performances, visual spectacles, and crowd-favourite duets like All the Stars and Gloria.
  • Kendrick arrived on stage in his signature GNX, delivering fiery performances from To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and his latest album GNX.
  • SZA stunned with hits from CTRL and SOS, transforming the stage into a fantasy landscape with high-energy vocals and choreography.

Two of the biggest names in rap and R&B, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, brought their much-anticipated Grand National Tour to Birmingham’s Villa Park on Thursday night, turning the historic stadium into a special musical experience. The pair, who previously wowed the world during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, performed a mix of solo tracks and duets across a three-hour set that left fans exhilarated.

The Grand National Tour, which has already broken records as the highest-grossing co-headline tour in history, continued its momentum in the UK. Following performances in Glasgow, Kendrick and SZA proved once again why they remain at the forefront of global music.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma’s Canada cafe shot at days after opening

Instagram/ginnichatrath

Kapil Sharma’s Canadian café targeted in shooting, Khalistani terrorist cites mockery of Nihang Sikhs as motive

Highlights:

  • Shots were fired at Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, just days after its opening.
  • Khalistani extremist Harjit Singh Laddi, linked to banned group BKI, claimed responsibility.
  • The motive cited was an old comedy segment from The Kapil Sharma Show that allegedly mocked Nihang Sikhs.
  • No injuries were reported; Canadian authorities are investigating the incident.

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s recently launched Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, was the target of a shooting in the early hours of 10 July. Though no one was harmed, the property sustained significant damage. A known Khalistani extremist, Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing perceived religious disrespect on The Kapil Sharma Show.

 Kap\u2019s Cafe in Surrey  Kap’s Cafe in Surrey was struck by gunfire late at night with staff still insideInstagram/thekapscafe_

Keep ReadingShow less
Charithra Chandran Wimbledon

Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance

Instagram/charithra17/Twitter/charithra files

Charithra Chandran brings ‘Bridgerton’ elegance to Wimbledon in timeless Ralph Lauren look

Highlights:

  • Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
  • Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
  • Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
  • The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.

Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.

 Charithra Chandran Wimbledon Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/

Keep ReadingShow less
Superman immigrant storyline

Poster of the upcoming Superman film releasing on July 11

Instagram/superman

‘Superman’ movie faces backlash over immigrant storyline in James Gunn reboot

Highlights:

 
     
  • James Gunn’s Superman reimagines the hero as a symbol of the immigrant experience.
  •  
  • Former Superman actor Dean Cain and conservative commentators criticise the film as "too woke."
  •  
  • Cain argues that Hollywood is rewriting classic characters to fit modern political agendas.
  •  
  • Gunn defends his interpretation, saying the story champions kindness and inclusion.
  •  
 

James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman has already been caught in a political storm. The director’s depiction of the Man of Steel as a metaphor for the immigrant experience has drawn criticism from right-wing voices, who accuse Hollywood of turning the iconic superhero into a tool for political messaging.

 Superman 2025 New ‘Superman’ movie sparks backlash for portraying hero as immigrant symbol Instagram/superman/reald3d

Keep ReadingShow less
Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber returns with Swag album exploring marriage struggles and mental health

Getty Images

Justin Bieber returns with surprise album Swag inspired by fatherhood and faith

Highlights:

  • Justin Bieber surprise-released his seventh studio album, Swag, on Friday, 11 July.
  • The 21-track album explores themes of family, faith, and mental health.
  • Collaborations include Gunna, Sexyy Red, Cash Cobain, and Eddie Benjamin.
  • Album includes viral quote, “I’m standing on business,” from recent paparazzi incident.

Justin Bieber has stunned fans by releasing a surprise new album titled Swag, marking his return to music after four years. Released on Friday (11 July), the 21-track album signals a clear shift in tone for the pop star, who has drawn inspiration from his roles as a husband and father, as well as his spiritual beliefs.

The album comes shortly after a string of cryptic social media posts and fan speculation about Bieber’s mental health, triggered in part by a viral video of him confronting paparazzi on Father’s Day. The now-infamous line from the clip, “I’m standing on business,” has become a catchphrase among fans and is directly used in the track Butterflies.

Keep ReadingShow less