Ajay Chhabra

Last updated

Ajay Chhabra
AC 2015.jpg
Chhabra in 2015
Born (1970-11-28) 28 November 1970 (age 53)
Greenwich, London, England
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, producer, theatre director
Years active1998–present

Ajay Chhabra (born 28 November 1970) is a British television and theatre actor, director, producer and comedian of Indo-Fijian heritage, who is best known for playing Anil in The Basil Brush Show , The Vicar, Suresh Mattai in the BBC Radio series The Archers and the Defense Barrister George Karnad in Holby City. Ajay, and Simmy Gupta are co-Artistic Directors of Nutkhut, [1] and founder of the London Mela [2] (Europe's largest South Asian festival).

Contents

Early life

Before turning professional he worked in the Hotel and Events sector. He studied Anthropology at Goldsmiths College, University of London and Hospitality Management at Westminster Hotel School and the University of North London. He trained at Grosvenor House Hotel and Beck Hotels in Austria, completing his training at the University of Innsbruck.

Career

He created and played Stanley in Kafka's Dick by Alan Bennett and developed his own series Planet Ajay for the BBC, creating and playing four characters – himself, his evil twin brother, Badjay, a space serpent: Jaleel the Eel and his maternal grandmother, Naniji, using green screen technology.

In 1995 he made his West End debut in Indian Ink by Tom Stoppard alongside Felicity Kendal, Art Malik and the late Margaret Tyzack. He has worked for BBC Radio Drama reading works exclusively for V S Naipaul and Salman Rushdie.[ citation needed ]

From 2002 to 2007, he played Anil the café owner in the children's TV series The Basil Brush Show .

Come to Kochi, an 8 part series which Chhabra presented from the Southern Indian state of Kerala, is now taught as part of the National Curriculum.[ citation needed ]

He has directed and performed for Diesel Clothing Company in Italy, Greece, Holland, Germany and Denmark, bringing together fashion and theatre in creating a theatrical presentation of Spring/Summer collections with catwalk models, classical dancers and actors.[ citation needed ]

In 2011 he created and performed a virtual customer of the future for the Senior Executive board of HSBC bank in Canary Wharf, London and at its headquarters in Hong Kong, enabling senior directors to execute future customer account profiles.[ citation needed ]

As part of the centenary commemorations of the First World War, [3] created by Chhabra, over 50,000 people experienced Dr Blighty at Brighton's Royal Pavilion Gardens. The projections spread far and wide on social media and were seen by over a million people online.

Dr Blighty [4] threw a spotlight on the Indians [5] who travelled across the world to fight for the Allies during the First World War. More than one million men travelled from India to fight in the Great War, and the collective experiences of these volunteer forces constitute one of the great untold stories in military history. The event successfully brought to life the experiences of the injured Indian soldiers sent to recuperate in Brighton and the locals who came to know and care for them.

Chhabra is a board member of The Independent Street Arts Network (ISAN) [6] and a member of the Mayor of London Cultural Leadership Board. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Second Generation Talvin
2002 Bend It Like Beckham Party Guest
2002 Anita and Me Mr. Bhatra
2003The AuditionSargentShort film
2005Project HuxleyColin
2021 Tom and Jerry Mr. Mehta

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998, 2007 Casualty Ravi Sangera
Felix Spencer
Episodes: "Internal Inferno: Part 1"
"Sweet Charity"
1998 The Bill Mr. WadiaEpisode: "Christmas Star"
2002–2007 The Basil Brush Show Anil
2003 Holby City George KarnadEpisodes: "The One You Love: Part 1"
"The One You Love: Part 2"
2005 Dream Team DoctorEpisode: "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle"
2009Planet AjayAjay / Badjay
2012 Hunted Pakistani DriverEpisode: "Khyber"
2016 Marcella Shop OwnerEpisode #1.1
2017 Hetty Feather DeerheartEpisode: "Plans"
2017 Carters Get Rich WaiterEpisode #1.2
2018 BBC3 Quickies (TV Mini-Series)DadWhen You Disappoint Your Parents
2018 The Jewish Enquirer (TV Series)Mike Geddis MPFeathers & Foreskins
2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral (TV Series)RafikLights, Camera, Wedding
2020 Vera (TV Series)Nasir AliBlood Will Tell

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References

  1. "Home". nutkhut.co.uk.
  2. "Home". londonmela.org.
  3. "Home". 1418now.org.uk.
  4. "Dr Blighty".
  5. "Brighton festival recalls pavilion's use as wartime hospital for Indian troops". TheGuardian.com . 22 May 2016.
  6. "ISAN | Meet the Board". www.isanuk.org. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017.
  7. "Cultural Leadership Board". 9 June 2017.