Asad Shan

Last updated

Asad Shan
Asad Shan.jpg
Asad Shan
Born
Asad Shan

Occupation(s)Actor, Filmmaker, TV Presenter and Real Estate Investor.
Years active2012–present
Website http://www.asadshan.com

Asad Shan is a British [1] actor, fashion model, TV presenter, and producer/director. He was formerly an investment banker, having worked for RBS (ABN AMRO) and HSBC. He was crowned Mr. Asia UK, beating 20 contestants in the process. [2] The film 7 Welcome to London was both his acting and directorial debut. It received critical and commercial acclaim after its UK release and has gone on to become the most successful British-made Hindi language film in the UK. [3]
Shan's other notable appearances include being a veejay for B4U Music, [4] and he is currently on Zee TV's Zing as a host for the weekend film show Brits Bollywood, as well as the daily rude tube show, Grinds My Teeth. [5] Shan has starred in many New York Film Academy productions, and Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute productions of the well-renowned East is East and The Glass Menagerie. He has recently endorsed campaigns for major brands like Sky Digital, HSBC, and most recently One for the Boys, a charity chaired by Samuel L. Jackson.

Contents

Early life

Asad was born in London. His grandparents moved to London from Jhelum in the 1940s. He studied at Brentwood School in Essex. He then studied law and management at university.[ citation needed ] Asad grew up supporting Liverpool F.C. and is an avid tennis and football player.[ citation needed ]

Career

Upon graduating with a degree in law and management, he worked as an investment banker in the city of London for two years in Corporate Broking and ECM.[ citation needed ] Asad won the Mr. Asia UK competition and inspired by this win, he went to New York to train in method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and in Film Performance at the New York Film Academy.[ citation needed ] he then moved from the Big Apple to Mumbai, India to begin work in Bollywood.

Within a few months after his move to Mumbai he was seen on the runways at Indian Fashion Week as well as being an ambassador for top fashion labels and eventually became one of the most sought-after veejays for B4U Music.[ citation needed ] In 2009 he was named the 'Best & Sexiest VJ' at the music channel. He fronted popular shows like "Just Request", "Star Stop", "Flash" and "India's Top Ten".[ citation needed ]

Eventually seeing an opportunity and growth in the UK market, Asad shifted his base back to London from Bombay where he started a film production company Iconic Productions UK Limited. [6] He worked on the company's debut venture, a Bollywood thriller film titled 7 Welcome to London. He played Jai in the starring role. [7] The film was set in London and had a UK-wide release on 9 March 2012. [8]

In the 2016 film London Life, he played the protagonist Raj. The English film is set in London and is about Indian students who migrate to the UK and the problems they face. [9]

Since 2011, he is UK's most popular & recognised face on Zee TV's music channel Zing as a host for Brits Bollywood and UK's first Asian Rude Tube show " Grinds My Teeth" which has gathered a huge response in the UK [10] Shan has hosted a daily request show Rock The Vibe in the past for Zing. [5]

Asad also dabbled as a creative producer for the Black Arts company in Soho London and has been the creator and host of "The Film Show" on Zing TV from 2015 to 2018, which is an Iconic production, and commissioned by Zee TV.[ citation needed ]

Asad started[ when? ] filming his first drama serial called "Aabgeenay" written by Qaisra Hayat and directed by Nadeem Siddique. This shoot started in Karachi in 2018 and after 70% of shoot, it was put on hold due to the ceasing of production house.

2023 saw Asad make a special appearance in An Action Hero ( Netflix ) and 2024 saw the release of Tell me about it on Amazon Prime, where Asad plays the lead role. Currently Asad is writing his next directional feature.

2024 saw the release of Asad's next feature role, Tell me about it. This British feature film was set in Bradford. Directed by British Pakistani film director Suman Hanif, it had its grand premiere at the Bradford Science Museum and is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Personal life

Asad plays tennis at the UK county level. He loves outdoor sports and is a keen hiker.[ citation needed ] He loves foreign cinema especially French and South Korean.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleProductionDirectorNotes
2005The WaiterRajuLes Beauchistes/O2 MobilesNilesh Patel
2005The Room MateJay New York Film Academy Ruchir Garg
2005What IfTom New York Film Academy Chung K. Park
2006Ya AliSelf/ ModelKunika LalKabir SadanandMusic Video
2008Never Ending StorySunny Kala Ghoda Film FestivalRanjeeta Kaur
2010Manali Cream [11] KalB3 ProductionsNavdeep Khandola
2012 7 Welcome to London JaiIconic Productions UK Ltd. [6] Asad Shan
2017London LifeRajKaybee PicturesNaveen MedaramPost Production
2022An Action HeroImaadYellow Colour Films / T seriesAnirudh IyerReleased worldwide / Netflix
2023Tell me about itKidnapperPageful ProductionsSuman HanifPost Production

Theatre productions

YearPlayRoleProductionDirector
2005The IndividualRayCPS Stage London
2005Talking With AngelsJasonCPS Stage London
2005 The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Conner New York Film Academy
2005In God We TrustJoeNYFCLee Strafford
2005 East Is East TariqNYFA TheatreJohn Stafford

Television

YearTitleRoleProduction
2005 The Salon Self/ Mr. Asia UK Channel 4
2007 BBC Desi DNASelf BBC Asia
2008Brits AbroadSelf Current TV
2007–08Express, Star StopVj Asad B4U Music
2008GPLSelf MTV India
2010–2015Brits BollywoodVj Asad Zing (TV channel)
2013–2014Grinds My TeethVj Asad Zing (TV channel)
2015–2016Zing JukeBoxVj Asad Zing (TV channel)
2018AabgeenayShahzad GEO TV (TV channel)
2015–2018The Film ShowVj Asad Zing (TV channel)

Commercials

YearAdvertisementRoleProduction
2006 Glow & Lovely Men's ActiveModel Glow & Lovely
2006Ayurveda Body Butter CreamModelAyurveda
2007 Škoda Octavia Model Škoda Octavia
2007 Hero Honda Model Hero Honda
2010LG F1ManTh2ng, Nick Meikle
2010William HillSilent Terrace ManThe Bank Film Company, Ian Cassie
2012–present Sky (UK and Ireland) Model Sky (UK and Ireland)
2020 World Remit International Model World Remit International
2022 Ford Securialert Model Ford Motor Company

Modelling

YearDesigner/ShowNotes
2005–06 London Fashion Week Ramp Model
2006-08 Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Ramp Model
2006-08Lakme India Fashion WeekRamp Model
2007-08OptionsBrand Ambassador
2007–08Boy LondonBrand Ambassador
2007Matrix Hair Model Fashion ShowModel
2008Indian Contemporary & Classic CoutureModel
2008 Roberto Cavalli Model
2008Kiran GidwaniModel

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zee TV</span> Indian Hindi-language television channel

Zee TV is an Indian Hindi language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched on 1 October 1992, as the oldest privately owned Television channel in India. The defunct and unsuccessful Asia Television Network started earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B4U (network)</span> Indian television network

B4U is a television network focused on Bollywood based entertainment. The network operates the nine channels B4U Music, B4U Movies, B4U Kadak, B4U Bhojpuri, B4U Aflam, B4U Plus, B4U Hitz, B4U Eldjazairia and B4U Eldjazairia 2 which are at present available on more than 8 different satellites, in more than 100 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In addition, the company operates B4U Motion Pictures, which is a media and entertainment production subsidiary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaaved Jaaferi</span> Indian film actor, dancer, hip hop artist and comedian (born 1963)

Syed Jaaved Ahmed Jaffrey is an Indian actor, dancer, and comedian who has appeared in Hindi films and television shows. He is the son of the comedian Jagdeep. He joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in March, 2014 and contested the 2014 Indian general election from the Lucknow constituency, finishing fifth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyrus Broacha</span> Indian anchor, theatre personality, comedian, political satirist, columnist, podcaster, and author

Cyrus Broacha is an Indian anchor, theatre personality, comedian, political satirist, columnist, podcaster and author. He is best known for his show Bakra on MTV India and The Week That Wasn't on CNN-News18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masumeh Makhija</span> Canadian actress (born 1984)

Masumeh Makhija, sometimes credited as Masumi Makhija born 10 October 1984) is a Canadian actress and model based in India. She was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and hails from a well-known Indian film family. Her grandfather Parananand was a pioneering distributor while her uncle Gul Anand and her mother Jayshree are producers known for Chashme Buddoor, Jalwa, Khatta Meetha and Hero Hiralal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenaz Treasury</span> Indian actress (born 1981)

Shenaz Treasurywala is an Indian actress and travel vlogger.

Tasmin Lucia-Khan is a British film producer, television personality, news anchor and entrepreneur. In the UK, she is most known for being the face of BBC Three 60 Seconds, hosting E24 on BBC News, and fronting the morning news for ITV Breakfast show Daybreak. She was appointed CEO of Hollywood film company WR Entertainment in 2016 and subsequently took the company public on the Oslo Stock Exchange Merkur Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Komal Nahta</span> Indian film critic, film trade analyst

Komal Nahta is an Indian film trade analyst. Nahta is the publisher of "Film Information" and also a television show host. He is an anchor of the trade show ETC Bollywood Business on the Bollywood TV channels ETC and Zee Cinema. He is in the advisory board of Cinema Capital. He is the son of film producer and critic Ramraj Nahta.

Murtaza Ali, better known as Murtz, is a British television and radio presenter.

<i>Welcome to London</i> 2015 British film

7 Welcome to London is a British romantic thriller produced, written, directed and starring Asad Shan. Set and filmed in the United Kingdom, the film tells the story of Jai, a young Punjabi man from Delhi who leaves his debt-ridden family in India to fulfill his dream of a brighter future. With luck on his side and a budding romance on the undergrounds of London city, Jai is on his way up until things start to take an unfortunate turn. The film combines elements of crime, drama and romance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rithvik Dhanjani</span> Indian actor (born 1988)

Rithvik Dhanjani is an Indian actor who primarily works in Hindi television and web shows. He made his acting debut in 2009, portraying Parth in Bandini. Dhanjani earned wider recognition with his portrayal of Arjun Digvijay Kirloskar in Pavitra Rishta. He is a recipient of one Indian Telly Award and Gold Award each, along with other nominations.

<i>Rab Se Sohna Isshq</i> 2012 Indian TV series or programme

Rab Se Sohna Isshq, known in English as Eternal Love, is an Indian soap opera produced by Jay Mehta's Jay Production, which aired on Zee TV from Monday to Friday. Ashish Sharma played the male lead along with Kanan Malhotra. Ekta Kaul made her debut as the female lead. The show revolves around the love triangle involving the characters played by the three actors with a large part of the story occurring in London. This was the first ever cross continental show in Indian television.

<i>Qubool Hai</i> Indian soap apera

Qubool Hai is an Indian soap opera that was produced by 4 Lions Films and broadcast on Zee TV. The series focused on the Muslim community and initially aimed to dispel stereotypes regarding Islam, and had been credited for pioneering Muslim oriented programming in Indian television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aadesh Bandekar</span> Indian actor

Aadesh Chandrakant Bandekar is a Marathi actor, TV host, and a Shiv Sena secretary and leader. He is known for hosting the Marathi game show Home Minister on Zee Marathi since 2004. He is the former chairman of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust with a status of Minister of State Government of Maharashtra. He holds a degree in M.A. political science from University of Mumbai (2020–22).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surbhi Jyoti</span> Indian television actress (born 1988)

Surbhi Jyoti is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi television along with Punjabi films. She rose to fame after her portrayal of Zoya Farooqui in Zee TV's romantic drama Qubool Hai, for which she won numerous awards, including an Indian Television Academy Award.

Sandesh Gour is an Indian film and television actor. He has done a Bollywood movie named Meeradha as lead and it was released on 19 August 2016. Meeradha gave him two Awards as "Critics Award for Acting" at Darbhanga International Film Festival January 2017 and "Special Jury Award for Acting" at Lake City International Film Festival April 2017. He has done short film Muafinaama as lead which got two international film festival awards in 2015. He has done a Telefilm Pragaash which also got two international awards in 2015. He has done many roles in various Indian television shows like Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya, Surya The Super Cop, Saraswatichandra, Savdhaan India, SuperCops vs Supervillains, Sanjeev Kapoor Ke Kitchen Khiladi, Mahisagar, CID and Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi. He was seen in Sab TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. On 14 September 2018 he has done an Episodic show Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya as protagonist named Vishwa on Zing channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zee ETC Bollywood</span> Television channel

Zee ETC Bollywood Channel was a Bollywood trade television channel. The channel caters to audiences in the Asia Pacific region and has shows that are hosted in English and Hindi. The channel features reviews, previews, box office collections, details of new and upcoming releases, trade speculations of Hindi films. Talks with Bollywood actors, trade pundits, directors, producers, distributors and film marketers etc. give audiences the insights about a particular film from a business perspective. Well known film critic, Komal Nahta stepped into film critic Taran Adarsh's shoes as a host of one of the most prominent shows of the channel, B Biz Reviews in April 2010.

<i>Janaan</i> 2016 film by Azfar Jafri

Janaan is a 2016 Pakistani romantic comedy film directed by Azfar Jafri, written by Osman Khalid Butt and co-produced by Hareem Farooq, Munir Hussain, Imran Raza Kazmi and Reham Khan, under production banners of IRK Films and Munir Hussain Films – UK. The film stars Armeena Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan in lead roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shantanu Maheshwari</span> Indian actor, dancer, and choreographer

Shantanu Maheshwari is an Indian actor, dancer, and choreographer, known for his versatility and vibrant performances. He gained fame for his debut role as Swayam Shekhawat in the popular youth television show Dil Dosti Dance. Shantanu's impressive dance skills earned him widespread recognition, leading to his victory in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8. He has also represented India internationally as part of the Desi Hoppers dance crew, winning the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles. Additionally, he made his Bollywood debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022).

References

  1. Irfan ul Haq (14 January 2016), "British-Pakistani actor Asad Shan stars in Indian film London Life", Dawn News. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. "Miss & Mr Asia 2003". missasia.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. "'7 Welcome To London' becomes most successful British Hindi film ever". Digital Spy. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. "B4U adds Asad Shan & Khushboo to VJ troupe". Radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Zing doubles up 'Grinds My Teeth' on demand". media247.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Home". iconicproductionsuk.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. "Model Asad Shan rocks "7 Welcome to London" – UrbanAsian". UrbanAsian. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  8. "Bollywood Fraternity Show Their Support for 7 Welcome to London | Welcome to Close-Up Film | Film Reviews, Film News, Film Interviews". Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  9. just host. "Welcome londonlifefilm.com - Justhost.com". londonlifefilm.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  10. "BizAsia.co.uk - the UK's only Asian media news website - News, Features, Interviews, Jobs, Events, Ratings, Bollywood". Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  11. http://aodl.mirocommunity.org/video/195/manali-cream-clip%5B%5D