The Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025 has recognised legendary filmmaker and director Waris Hussein with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to the Creative Industry award. This accolade celebrates Hussein’s pioneering achievements as the first Indian-origin director at the BBC and his extraordinary impact across film, television and theatre over a trailblazing career that spans more than six decades and three continents.
Waris Hussein’s journey began in Lucknow, India, and continued in post-war England, where he moved with his family at the age of nine. A gifted storyteller from an early age, Hussein was influenced by his mother, Attia Hosain, a writer, and his father, Ali Bahadur Habibullah, an Indian diplomat. After attending Cambridge and the Slade School of Art—where he studied theatre design—Hussein became the youngest director ever appointed to the Drama Department at BBC Television in the early 1960s, breaking new ground as the first of Indian origin in a domain then unfamiliar with South Asian voices.
His directing debut in feature films came with A Touch of Love (1969), an adaptation of Margaret Drabble’s The Millstone, which went on to represent the UK at the Berlin Film Festival. He followed this with Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970), the much-loved Melody (1971)—a global hit—and Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1973), which was honoured with a Royal Command Film Performance screening.
Hussein’s directorial finesse extended across genres and borders. The Possession of Joel Delaney, starring Shirley MacLaine, became a cult classic, influencing a generation of supernatural cinema. His acclaimed TV dramas and films garnered top ratings in both the UK and the US, while his direction brought numerous actors into award-winning performances. Among his proudest achievements is Sixth Happiness (1997), filmed in India and adapted from Firdaus Kanga’s novel Trying to Grow.
Hussein’s versatility also spanned the stage. He was the first Indian director to present a play at London’s National Theatre and later moved to the United States in the 1980s, invited by the celebrated American stage actress Colleen Dewhurst. There, he expanded his career directing theatre and television productions, winning both BAFTA and Emmy awards along the way.
Throughout his illustrious career, Waris Hussein has collaborated with the finest talent in global cinema and theatre, including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Shirley MacLaine, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Anthony Hopkins and Michelle Pfeiffer. His work has not only enriched the cultural landscape but also opened doors for future generations of diverse creative voices.
By honouring Hussein with the Outstanding Contribution to the Creative Industry award, the ACTAs 2025 pay tribute to a visionary who not only broke barriers but also reshaped the artistic world with grace, talent and an unyielding commitment to excellence.
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