Immortalised Tussauds in 2020

Ranveer    Singh                             to    be
immortalised    by                             Madame
Tussauds in 2020
Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh walked away from the 20th
International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards with two
accolades and the news that he will join Madame Tussauds’ A-
List line-up next year. Best known for his roles in films
including Padmaavat and most recently Gully Boy, the Forbes
India Celebrity 100 regular walked away with the Best Actor
gong and Madame Tussauds of the Future Award. A star-studded
audience of Indian cinema’s top talent – including Salman
Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Deepika
Padukone – was there to see Ranveer accept his award and
announce his upcoming figure.

On accepting the Madame Tussauds of the Future Award Ranveer
said: “Wow, I’m damn excited. This is amazing. I remember as a
kid I used to be an encyclopaedia geek and they used to talk
about this mythical place called Madame Tussauds…I was going
through my Mum’s early pictures and I would say, ‘Mum, where
did you get a picture with The Queen?’ and she would say,
‘that’s in Madame Tussauds London.’ Since childhood it’s
always been a very mythical place for me so to be immortalised
as a figure there is truly a very, very proud thing for me.

“When my wife’s launch was happening my mother-in-law was
like, ‘come on now, you have to work hard if you want a figure
of you also.’ Mamma, we’re going to London!”

Speaking to his wife, Deepika Padukone, from the stage,
Ranveer added, “I’m going to figure out my pose, figure out my
dress. It’s going to be you and me baby, husband and wife at
Madame Tussauds London – boom baby.”

Steve Davies, General Manager at Madame Tussauds London, said:

“Ranveer is the first 2020 figure that we have announced and
what a way to start! We’re privileged that Ranveer will be
working closely with us to ensure the figure embodies his
inimitable style and huge star power.

“Ranveer visited our attraction earlier this year for the
unveiling of Deepika Padukone’s figure. As Bollywood’s most
in-demand couple it will come as no surprise that we’ve been
inundated with requests for Ranveer’s figure to join his wife
ever since!”

The world-famous attraction is remaining tight lipped about
details surrounding Ranveer’s figure until its arrival next
year. The London launch will co-inside with the creation of a
second figure for Madame Tussauds Singapore.

For    tickets    and    information        please     visit
www.madametussauds.com/London.

‘Teachers need a seat at the
top table’ Sunny Varkey tells
President Trump
‘Teachers need a seat at the top table’ Indian philanthropist
and founder of UK based charity, Varkey Foundation, Sunny
Varkey, told President Trump during a meeting at the White
House. He was accompanied by 2019 Global Teacher Prize winner
Peter Tabichi who was in the USA to highlight the important
role that teachers play in society and the challenges they
face. The Varkey Foundation and Peter Tabichi are also
encouraging politicians and business leaders to invest in
science education in developing countries.

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, said:

“We were very grateful that President Trump took the time to
meet us. Our aim is to give teachers like Peter a platform
where they highlight key issues of importance to the world. We
look at new and exciting ways to tell their stories to every
stakeholder in education – from pupils and parents to CEOs and
Presidents. We need to give teachers a seat at the top table
as they shape the future everyday through the children they
teach

“Teachers hold the future of our world in their hands through
the young minds they nurture. That’s why, through the Global
Teacher Prize, we strive every day to shine a spotlight on
teachers and their enormous power to transform lives”.

Peter has also been encouraging people around the world from
the US to India to apply for the Global Teacher Prize 2020
before nominations close on October 14.

Tabichi said:

“During the Global Teacher Prize ceremony I met so many Indian
teachers that are innovative in how they inspire and engage
their pupils in lessons. They really have a passion for their
job and deserve a spotlight thrown on the important work they
do in shaping the future of India through the children they
teach.”

Peter Tabichi won the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize
2019 at a ceremony in March hosted by actor, singer, and
producer Hugh Jackman.

Peter teaches at Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani
Village, situated in a remote, semi-arid part of Kenya’s Rift
Valley. Here, students from a host of diverse cultures and
religions learn in poorly equipped classrooms. Their lives can
be tough in a region where drought and famine are frequent.
Ninety-five percent of pupils hail from poor families, almost

a third are orphans or have only one parent, and many go
without food at home. Drug abuse, teenage pregnancies,
dropping out early from school, young marriages and suicide
are common.

Turning lives around in a school with a student-teacher ratio
of 58:1, is no easy task, not least when to reach the school,
students must walk 7km along roads that become impassable in
the rainy season.

Undeterred, Peter started a talent nurturing club and expanded
the school’s Science Club, helping pupils design research
projects of such quality that 60% now qualify for national
competitions. Peter mentored his pupils through the Kenya
Science and Engineering Fair 2018 – where students showcased a
device they had invented to allow blind and deaf people to
measure objects. His students, who had never stepped on a
plane before, went on to win the UN Sustainable Development
Goal Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering
Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona this year.

Despite teaching in a school with only one desktop computer
with an intermittent internet connection, Peter uses ICT in
80% of his lessons to engage students, visiting internet cafes
and caching online content to be used offline in class.

About The Varkey Foundation
The Varkey Foundation believes every child deserves a vibrant,
stimulating learning environment that awakens and supports
their full potential. We believe nothing is more important to
achieving this than the passion and quality of teachers. We
founded the Global Teacher Prize to shine a spotlight on the
incredible work teachers do all over the world and we continue
to play a leading role in influencing education debates on the
status     of     teachers     around         the         world.
https://www.varkeyfoundation.org

Tamasha   &   SOAS   present
‘Decolonising History’, audio
dramas
Tamasha presents a digital project for the School of Oriental
and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, which has
been active in debates about ‘Decolonising History’ – what it
means in practice, and if it is even possible. Inspired in
part by SOAS’s own uncomfortable past as a training college
for officers of the British Empire, SOAS History department
hosted five Tamasha playwrights on an access-all-areas basis.

These five thrilling audio dramas reflect what they found.

Exploring issues from politicised teaching, to the legacy of
trauma, to the joys of discovering uncelebrated historical
figures, these five plays showcase the power of drama to
unpack big ideas in a human and relatable way. The dramas will
be played to a live audience at four ‘gathered listening’
events in theatres and cultural spaces across the UK, starting
with a world premiere at SOAS (London) on 8 October.
Accompanying the playback will be panel debates involving SOAS
staff, students and playwrights – your opportunity to ask
questions about the journey they have been on together, and
about this fascinating subject.

“The discipline of History as we know it today is a product of
the age of European empire. This has had profound consequences
for our understanding of where ‘history’ happens and who
shapes it.”

– Dr Eleanor Newbigin, SOAS University of London

KEY DATES

Tuesday 8th October 2019 (World Premiere)
SOAS University of London
London WC1H
Click here to book.

Wednesday 30th October 2019
Rich Mix, London E1
Click here to book.

Wednesday 13th November 2019
Royal Exchange, Manchester M2

THE AUDIO DRAMAS

A Form of Colonisation by Amy Ng

When SOAS History student Ai Ling Lo fails her latest essay on
the last Chinese emperor Pu Yi, she goes to challenge her
lecturer about her consistently harsh marking. Little does she
realise this will set in motion a chain of events for them
both, echoing the relationship between Pu Yi and his Scottish
colonial tutor, Reginald Johnstone. A smart and timely
examination of the power politics of teacher-student
relationships across the centuries.

Scar Tissue by Satinder Chohan

When sisters Neeti and Priya travel back to India to scatter
their grandmother’s ashes, Neeti takes with her the final
recordings their beloved Bibi made on her death bed. Haunted
by her past and gripped by strange visitations, Bibi’s voice
follows them on their journey, before revealing a devastating
secret.

“I have never felt comfortable being British in a Britain that
frequently whitewashes the darker aspects of its imperial
history. Both fascinated and alarmed by Britain’s collective
historical amnesia, I had to be involved in a project that

sought to ‘decolonise history’.”

The Museum by Danusia Samal

Once upon a time, a desperate man accepted an offer he
couldn’t refuse for a collection of highly personal community
artefacts at risk from war. Years later his daughter, on a
scholarship to a London university, seeks out the academic she
holds responsible. What lengths is she prepared to go to, to
reclaim this lost museum?

The Bigger Picture by Guleraana Mir

On a cold autumn day, a lone hawk is spotted on SOAS campus,
killing and mutilating pigeons. Meanwhile, Saima is struggling
to get her lecturer to accept the subject for her dissertation
– sixteenth century Indian warrior queen Chand Bibi. How can
women take up their rightful place in history when the records
of their achievements are so sparse? The answer comes from an
unlikely source. Is any of it real, or a product of Saima’s
grief-stricken mind?

The Questions You Ask by Bushra Laskar

As Aisha Saikia waits in hospital for news of her mother,
undergoing brain surgery after a debilitating stroke, an old
classmate, Sunny, shows up to pay his respects to his old
History teacher. But when it turns out that ‘Psycho Saikia’
told the two of them very different stories about a traumatic
experience from her past, Aisha is forced to question
everything she thought she knew about her mum, and herself.

Kali Theatre presents ‘Homing
Birds’ by Rukhsana Ahmad,
Autumn Tour
Young Afghan refugee Saeed desperately wants to reconnect with
his roots and find his long-lost sister. So he leaves his
adoptive family in London and returns home to Kabul to work as
a doctor, eager to contribute to rebuilding a new Afghanistan.
But here past and present collide and Saeed must face up to
the reality of his changed world.

This moving and thought-provoking play asks if a place can
ever be home without a connection to family and roots?

About Rukhsana Ahmad
Rukhsana is a playwright, writer and translator. Stage plays
include: Song for a Sanctuary, Gatekeeper’s Wife, River on
Fire, Mistaken: Annie Besant in India and Letting Go. For BBC
Radio, besides originals, she has adapted: Nawal El Saadawi’s
Woman at Point Zero, Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea, R. K.
Narayan’s The Guide, Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss and
Salman Rushdie’s ‘Midnight’s Children’, among others.

Autumn Tour
PLYMOUTH
Theatre Royal – The Drum
Wed 9th – Sat 12th October 2019, 7.45pm
Post show discussion with the writer Thursday 10 October

Theatre Royal – The Drum
Royal Parade Plymouth PL1 2TR
Box Office 01752 267222

Book online here

SALISBURY
The Salberg at Salisbury Playhouse
Thur 17th – Sat 19th October 2019, 7.45pm

The Salberg
Malthouse Lane
Salisbury SP2 7RA
Box Office 01722 320 333

Book online here

HORNCHURCH
Queens Theatre
Fri 25th – Sat 26th October 2019, 7.30pm

Queens Theatre
Billet Lane
Hornchurch RM11 1QT
Box Office 01708 443333

Book online here

LEICESTER
Leicester Curve
Thur 31st Oct – Sat 2nd Nov 2019, 7.45pm
Post show discussion with the writer Thursday 31 October

Curve Theatre
60 Rutland Street
Leicester LE1 1SB
Box Office 0116 242 3595

Book online here

LONDON
Tara Arts
Tue 26th November – Sat 7th December 2019
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Sat 7 Dec 3pm

Post show discussion with the writer, director and Nadene

Ghouri, an award winning journalist who has reported
extensively from Afghanistan Tuesday 3rd December

Tara Theatre
356 Garratt Lane Earlsfield
London SW18 4ES
Just 10 minutes from Waterloo
Box Office 020 8333 4457

Book online here

Women Empowered from Ground
Breaking    to    Shattered
Ceilings
Global Teacher prize winner, Andria Zafirakou MBE, campaigner
Nimco Ali OBE and chef Atul Kochhar spoke at the Women
Empowered ‘Ground Breaking to Shattering Ceilings’ event on
19th September 2019. The speakers shared their stories on the
personal ceilings they shattered and what gave them the
courage and strength to walk an uncharted path. Reena Ranger,
co-founder and chairman of WE said, “their achievements have
been firsts of their kind, they have fought for change,
impacted the lives of many others across generations. They are
the embodiment of being the change they wish to see in the
world.”

Andria Zafirakou MBE

Andria Zafirakou MBE, spoke openly, saying by talking
vulnerably and honestly to all she hoped that it would give
people strength and ideas to go on and conquer the world.

She spoke of the three times she had to be “brave”, firstly
telling her parents that she would be pursuing a subject she
was passionate about, the arts, and not the subjects they had
wanted her to do at school.

The second was when she met the man of her dreams, who was not
the traditional Greek boy her family expected.

Thirdly, winning the Global Teacher prize from 30,000
applicants and the new world that it took her to. She felt the
joy and responsibility of representing her school, profession
and country and learned to navigate a new world in which she
was travelling globally, being interviewed by various media,
being spoken about in Prime Ministers Questions in the UK
Parliament, contributing to Government conversations and
setting up a charity to bring artists into schools to inspire
students to take up the arts.

She said it was the children that she teaches, nurtures and
watches thrive are the most sacred and fulfilling moments. She
spoke of the kindness of others and what impact it had on her
life; it was a gentle reminder that kindness really matters
and can change lives.

Nimco Ali OBE

Nimco Ali OBE, reflected that all she had done over the last
decade had been a coincidence in a moment of circumstance
realising she had to be the change. She spoke openly about the
FGM that happened to her and the impact it had on her life and
health. When trying to understand and talk about what had
happened to her body, she found no dialogue and resigned
herself to consuming her experience.

Two decades later, she was asked to inspire young Somali girls
about extending outside of the visions their families had for
them. One of the young girls raised FGM and she was shocked to
realise that so many had undergone FGM and the consequence of
this on their behaviour and outlook was something that needed

urgent attention and change was needed for future generations.

She felt her silence on her own experience was complicit to
the misunderstanding of FGM and that it was something that
happened in other countries and not to the girls in the UK.
The girls who she had gone to inspire, inspired her to be the
change and she founded Daughters of Eve in order to change the
narrative around FGM in the UK.

Her book, What We’re Told Not to Talk About (But We’re Going
to Anyway): Women’s Voices from East London to Ethiopia,
includes stories of women who are sharing experiences they
have always been told should be “secret and shameful” as well
as her own story of living with FGM.

Her passion for gender equality and how vital it was for the
advancement of communities and nations was palpable.

Atul Kochhar

Chef Atul Kochhar, spoke of the influence of the women in his
life, his sisters and mother allowed him to grow up with a
wide skill set and understanding that has been invaluable in
life.

He spoke of his desire to go to hotel school and not to the
medical school that he had gained admission into. His father
encouraged him to pursue his passion as he was picking a
career path for life and it should be one that he would enjoy
and fulfil him. His father told him that “consistency may be
boring but with consistency we achieve everything”

He spoke about his break gaining a place at a prestigious
catering school and then getting head hunted to come the UK.
He won many awards, but his father was not impressed and told
his son, to think wider. He explained that he was from North
India and his father sent him to the South to learn more and
now that he was in England, he had to learn again and push
boundaries and reminded him to integrate all his learning with

his new surroundings. His new perspective gave him a new
passion and a new way of cooking; he won his first Michelin
star.

Atul spoke honestly about his success and mistakes he had
made. He created a twitter storm and his dark moments and
shame stemming from it. He reminded the audience that dark
times can turn into light, the wise words of a friend helped
to tune his mind “if you keep looking in the past, that is a
problem, if you look at your present, it’s a problem for some
time but focus your future as if it’s your present and you
will thrive”. His lesson in life was that there are more good
people in the world who are willing to help you than bad and
to always keep learning.

About Women Empowered
Women Empowered is a not for profit volunteer run social
initiative and holds events which bring interesting speakers
and their stories on a particular topic to anybody who wishes
to hear them. It is hoped that through the stories of the
speakers, attendees will be engaged, encouraged, empowered and
enabled to “do whatever that special thing is that makes a
difference in your life as you see it.”

For more information visit www.womenempowered.co.uk

Kunal    Khemu’s     starrer
‘Lootcase’ is about the hunt

for a red suitcase!
Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, ‘Lootcase’ a tale about the hunt
for a missing red suitcase, starring Kunal Khemu is slated to
release in cinemas on 11th October 2019. Produced by Fox Star
Studios and Soda Films Productions, the film trailer shows
gangster Bala Rathore played by Vijay Raaz, corrupt MLA Patil
played by Gajraj Rao, and Inspector Kolte played by Ranvir
Shorey all searching for a missing red suitcase.

Synopsis

Nandan Kumar, a middle class, family man finds a suitcase with
₹10 Crores in a lonely desolate market – on the way back from
his night shift. However, he hides it from his morally upright
wife Lata and his little son Ayush, whom he dearly loves and
wouldn’t trade for anything. Nandan works as a supervisor in a
printing press. He pays rent, takes the train and sometimes,
bites his tongue and even works the night shift. He now
believes the suitcase is the divine answer to all his lower
middle-class problems. He starts talking to the suitcase – as
if it were his long-lost pal. In the meanwhile, the suitcase’s
dark past catches up with him. With absolutely no special
skills or talent, the common man has to make a choice: does he
fight or does he take flight for survival?

Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, Lootcase is produced by Fox Star
Studios and Soda Films Productions and is slated to release in
cinemas on 11th October 2019.

Yash   Raj  Film’s   present
Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff
& Vaani Kapoor in ‘War’
Yash Raj Film’s present Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff & Vaani
Kapoor in War which is is set to release in Hindi, Tamil and
Telugu on on 2nd October 2019. The high-octane action
entertainer that promises to be the biggest action spectacle
of all time, has two of the biggest action heroes Hrithik
Roshan and Tiger Shroff pitted against each other in a massive
showdown. The action design team consists Paul Jennings (The
Dark Knight, San Andreas, Jack Reacher and Game of Thrones),
Franz Spilhaus (Safe House, Eye in the Sky, Death Race), Sea
Young Oh (Age of Ultron, Snowpiercer) and Parvez Shaikh (Tiger
Zinda Hai, Kesari, Mary Kom).

Director Siddharth Anand says, “When you bring two of the
biggest and the best action superstars of India in one film
and pit them against each other, you need a title that
justifies the promise of a massive showdown. Hrithik and Tiger
will be seen going at each other ferociously and mercilessly
and audiences will want to see who outwits whom in this
incredible fight. WAR is the only title that could have
delivered on this big promise and justifies the level of an
action spectacle that the film is trying to present to
audiences globally.”

Produced by Yash Raj Films, War is set to release in Hindi,
Tamil, and Telugu on 2nd October 2019.

Peerages for Asian Stalwarts
Zameer Choudrey CBE & Rami
Ranger CBE
Zameer Choudrey CBE and Rami Ranger CBE have been included in
the Prime Minister’s Resignation Peerages list, it was
announced on the 10th September 2019. Nominated by Theresa
May, the former Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party;
Zameer Choudrey CBE is Chairman of Conservative Friends of
Pakistan and Chief Executive of Bestway Group and Raminder
Ranger CBE is Chairman of Conservative Friends of India and
founder of Sun Mark Ltd.

The appointment of Zameer Choudrey is in recognition of his
contributions to Britain’s domestic and foreign trade as a
leading businessman and entrepreneur, his philanthropic work
both in the UK and abroad, and his role as chairman of the
Conservative Friends of Pakistan.

Choudrey said: “It is an immense honour. I am truly humbled to
have been appointed to the House of Lords. I have always
viewed the UK to be the land of opportunity and I look forward
to contributing to the continued advancement of our great
country.”

About Zameer Choudrey CBE
As chief executive of Bestway Group, Zameer Choudrey CBE has
driven growth in businesses across the UK and Pakistan,
resulting in him being appointed to deputy chairman of the
Pakistan Britain Trade & Investment Forum and serving as a
member of the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI)
Economic Affairs Committee in previous years. He has also

regularly been asked to facilitate private government visits
to both Pakistan and the UK for senior government officials
from both countries to discuss how both the UK and Pakistan
can look to increase trade and investment.

He has overseen the growth of Bestway Group into one of the
UK’s largest family owned businesses, which employs over
27,000 people worldwide, including 15,000 in the UK.

Choudrey comes from humble beginnings, having grown up in a
remote village in Pakistan, before moving to the UK at the age
of 12. His remarkable success over his career led to him being
appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List for services to industry
and philanthropy. He also sits as a trustee for several
national charities, including CrimeStoppers, Grocery Aid and
Bestway Foundation, which has donated over £30 million to
worthy education and healthcare causes. In January 2018, he
was appointed as the UK Chair of the British Asian Trust’s
Advisory Council, by HRH The Prince of Wales.

About Rami Ranger CBE
Dr Rami Ranger CBE is a founding member of the Hindu Forum of
Britain, and Chairman of the Pakistan, India & UK Friendship
Forum, and the British Sikh Association. Having founded his
first Company with just £2 and a typewriter in 1987, Rami
Ranger now oversees Sun Mark Ltd, Sea Air and Land Forwarding
Ltd, and Bulldog Energy Drink Ltd with a turnover of over £200
million a year. His company, Sun Mark Ltd, is the only company
in the UK to have awarded 5 consecutive Queens Awards for the
enterprise.

His book ‘From Nothing to Everything’, charts his rags to
riches story from the time of his birth in Gujranwala (now
Pakistan) to his present day life in Britain. The book begins
with the dramatic flight from the ancestral home during the
turmoil of the partition of India in 1947 and describes the

assassination of his father Shaheed Nanak Singh who was a
freedom fighter and opposed the break-up of India on the basis
of religion. The hardships he faced during his childhood is
documented along with the pivotal role played by his mother,
who worked as a teacher and was responsible in shaping him
into a fine upstanding individual. In 1971 he emigrated to
England and overcame prejudice to achieve success on a scale
that he could hardly have imagined in his wildest dreams.

Rami is also the Patron of the Punjabi Society of British
Isles, Combat Stress and Fellow of the Prince’s Trust. As a
key supporter of youth and skills development, he is a member
of the government’s Apprenticeship Delivery Board and an
Ambassador for the Food and Drinks Industry in the development
of apprenticeships and job creation throughout the UK.

In 2005 he was made a Member of the British Empire and in 2016
the Commander of British Empire for his services to British
Business and the Asian Community.

Winners of the 19th Asian
Achievers Awards announced
The winners of the prestigious 19th annual Asian Achievers
Awards were revealed in another glamorous ceremony on Friday
6th September 2019 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Winners
include, BBC News Economics Editor, Faisal Islam for
Achievement in Media, Arts & Culture; Woman of the Year, Neeta
Patel, CEO of New Entrepreneurs Foundation; and Harjit Singh
Bhania, head coach of the men’s GB wheelchair basketball team
for Sports Personality of the Year. The prestigious Lifetime
Achievement Award went to philanthropist business tycoon, Anil

Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources, while London Deputy
Mayor, Rajesh Agrawal received the Editor’s Award for Public
Services.

Hosts, actor Nitin Ganatra and Nisha Parmar, semi-finalist of
BBC’s Masterchef UK, were joined by business tycoons,
entrepreneurs and dignitaries, including Jeffery Archer, whose
skilful auctioneering helped to raise a staggering £150,000
for this year’s chosen charity Yuva Unstoppable, a youth
movement in India that works towards educating underprivileged
children.

Mr. CB Patel, Publisher/Editor, ABPL Group says:”This year our
theme is inclusivity. As you know inclusivity is not just
about diversity, but about being inclusive of everyone. That’s
why we have so many shortlisted candidates this year from the
LGBTQ community. Today historically, it also completes one
year of decriminalisation of homosexuality in India – a step
in the right direction under the leadership of our Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Societal exclusion, identity seclusion and isolation from the
society are still the stark realities faced by many
individuals, and for Asians it’s even harder. So, our job as
always, is to set an example, not only through our
publications of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, but
especially through today’s Asian Achievers Awards –
campaigning for individual liberation and rewarding people for
striving so hard against any odds.

“And in our effort to do so, I must thank the inputs from all
our readers and supporters for nominating such outstanding
candidates and our independent panel of judges who did their
job so brilliantly. I would like to congratulate all the
winners of our 19th annual Asian Achievers Awards. Their
remarkable contributions to society and community have had a
profound impact and I take great pride in highlighting their
accomplishments.”

« ‹ 1 of 10   ›   »

AAA 2019 Winners
    Achievement in Community Services – Onkardeep Singh
    Achievement in Media, Arts & Culture – Faisal Islam
    Businessperson of the Year – Vipul Vadera
    Entrepreneur of the Year – Kush Kanodia
    Professional of the Year – Krishna Omkar
    Sports Personality of the Year – Harjit Singh Bhania
    Uniformed, Civil and Public Services – Hafsa Qureshi
    Woman of the Year – Neeta Patel
    Lifetime Achievement Award – Anil Agarwal
    Editor’s Award for Public Services – Rajesh Agrawal,
    London Deputy Mayor
    Editor’s Award for Contribution to Thoracic Surgery –
    Dr. Nilesh U Patel MD
    Editor’s Choice Award for Community Service,
    Philanthropy and Entrepreneurship – Pradip Dhamecha

The Asian Achievers Awards is hosted by Asian Business
Publications Ltd (ABPL) (established 1972), who are the
publishers of Asian Voice (English) and Gujarat Samachar
(Gujarati), the premier newsweeklies for British Asians – one
of the UK’s most progressive and enterprising ethnic groups.

European premiere of ‘The Sky
is Pink’ at the BFI London
Film Festival
Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shonali Bose’s much-anticipated
drama, The Sky Is Pink, will receive its European Premiere at
the 63rd BFI London Film Festival as part of the LOVE strand.
The director, lead actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and producer
Siddharth Roy Kapur will be attending the festival screening
on Sunday 6th October 2019, BFI Southbank, NFT1. A second
screening will take place on Sunday 7th October 2019, Vue West
End, Screen 6.

One of contemporary Indian cinema’s most lauded filmmakers,
Bose (Margarita with a Straw, LFF 2014) returns to the BFI
London Film Festival for the film’s European Premiere
following its World Premiere at Toronto International Film
Festival on 13th September. The film stars Priyanka Chopra
Jonas, Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim, some of the most
celebrated talent in contemporary Indian cinema that have
garnered international and mainstream recognition. The film is
produced by RSVP and Roy Kapur Films, in association with SK
Global and Purple Pebble Pictures.

Director Shonali Bose says, “I’m thrilled to bits and honoured
to return to the Festival with this, my third film. The true

story of The Sky is Pink is deeply connected with London,
making this a very special screening.”

Talking about the screening at the BFI London Film Festival,
producer Ronnie Screwvala says, “We are delighted that our
film will be premiered at such a prestigious festival. It is
definitely a story that needs to be heard and felt by the
audiences around the world. This opportunity is a privilege
and we are excited to share this lovely film with the world.”

Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur says, “We are overwhelmed that,
after its World Premiere at TIFF, The Sky Is Pink will be
screened at the esteemed BFI London Film Festival. At Roy
Kapur Films, we believe in telling powerful stories that
create a lasting impact. We are thrilled that our first
production is being so well received.”

Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas says, “It’s an honour for us to
have our European Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
The city of London plays a significant part in timeline of the
film. In fact, we even shot some portions of the film here so
that makes it even more special. The Sky Is Pink is a story
that will surprise the audience in its representation of love
in all its forms. I am so proud of what we’ve created. It’s a
labour of love and we’re excited to finally hand it over to
the audience.”

Actor Farhan Akhtar says, “Ecstatic that our film The Sky Is
Pink will have its European Premiere at the BFI London Film
Festival. The city has a very close connection with our film’s
narrative and I hope the audiences there enjoy this special
story.”

Synopsis: The Sky is Pink is the incredible love story of a
couple spanning 25 years, told through the lens of their
teenage daughter. She is sassy, sardonic, spunky and
also…dead. A fact she nonchalantly mentions at the very
outset. “Get over it. It’s quite cool actually. You’ll see

when you get here (which you do know you will right?!)”

Unexpectedly humorous, warm and heart wrenching all at once as
the magic of life and beauty of death manifest in one family’s
unusual, courageous journey in this 100% true story. The Sky
Is Pink is produced by RSVP and Roy Kapur Films in association
with SK Global and Purple Pebble Pictures and is distributed
by RSVP and will be on general release worldwide on 11th
October 2019.

For more information visit: www.bfi.org.uk

Amazon Prime launches ‘The
Family Man’ starring Manoj
Bajpayee
Amazon Prime Video drama-thriller, The Family Man, starring
Manoj Bajpayee, is set to launch on 20th September 2019 in
Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, across 200 countries and
territories. It follows the journey of Srikant Tiwari, a man
who tries to strike a balance between the responsibilities of
his family while working for a highly secretive special cell
of the National Intelligence Agency, attempting to spot and
prevent large-scale terror attacks on the country and its
citizens.The Family Man marks the debut of creative duo Raj &
DK’s (Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK).

Vijay Subramaniam, Director, Content, Amazon Prime Video
India, said “With The Family Man, Amazon continues to bring
distinctive and high quality storytelling to our audiences,
reinforcing our commitment to being a home for talent, both in
front of and behind the camera. The Family Man is a fast-paced

drama-thriller that redefines mainstream viewing by bringing
high-caliber creators such as Raj & DK along with an all-star
cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Neeraj Madhav, Gul
Panag, among others. The show seamlessly couples drama,
action, thrill and surprisingly wry humor in a highly binge-
worthy 10 episodes. Serious geo-politics forms the backdrop of
the drama-thriller, taking The Family Man across the country,
as he attempts to serve the nation. Viewers will also get deep
insights into very relatable struggles of a Family Man, who
attempts to balance both work and family.”

Raj & DK, Producers of the Amazon Original, The Family Man,
through their production company, D2R Films said, “We have
been wanting to get into long-form storytelling, and were
waiting for the right platform. And we found an amazing
partner in Amazon Prime! It has truly been a wonderful
journey, the start of a new and exciting innings, creating our
first show. With The Family Man, we tried a new genre and an
approach both challenging and satisfying. We tried our take on
geo-politics, blended it into an action-y thriller and added
doses of quirky humour that is usually not associated with a
serious genre like this. Loosely inspired by present-day
events, it is a grounded take on the life of a middle-class
guy who is also tasked with the job of fighting terrorism. The
Family Man is an ode to the common man – his hopes,
aspirations, responsibilities and troubles. In this case, he’s
also pretty screwed – balancing family and saving the
country.”

The edgy drama thriller series has been created, produced and
directed by Raj & DK (Stree, Go Goa Gone, Shor In The City)
and marks the digital debut of two-time National Film Award
winning actor, Manoj Bajpayee, along with National Film Award
recipient, Priyamani. The Amazon Original series includes
talent from across the Indian film industry including Sharib
Hashmi, Neeraj Madhav, Sharad Kelkar, Gul Panag, Sundeep
Kishan, Darshan Kumaar, Sunny Hinduja, Shreya Dhanwantary and

others.

Synopsis:

The trailer of Amazon Original Series, The Family Man gives us
a glimpse into the life of a middle-class man (Srikant Tiwari)
who works for a special cell of the National Investigation
Agency. While he tries to protect the nation from terrorists,
he also has to protect his family from the impact of his
secretive, high-pressure, and low paying job.

To watch the upcoming Amazon Original The Family Man and
newest releases in Hollywood & Bollywood, the latest US TV
shows, kids’ favorite toons and Amazon Prime Originals, please
visit www.PrimeVideo.com or download the Amazon Prime Video
app today.

Sky Cinema’s Hotel Mumbai set
for   UK  release   on   27th
September
Sky Cinema’s ‘Hotel Mumbai’ starring Dev Patel, Armie Hammer,
Jason Isaacs and Anupam Kher, is set for UK release on 27th
September 2019. Inspired by the stories of survivors of the
2008 Mumbai attacks, the film debuts Antony Maras as a
talented new filmmaker, as he emotionally and viscerally
captures one of the most harrowing terrorist attacks of the
21st Century. As well as directing, Maras also co-wrote the
film with John Collee, researching heavily to show the event
with unrestrained truth. The film’s affecting portrayal has
already seen critical and festival success, with its world

premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 28th
September last year.

On the 26th November 2008, a wave of devastating terror
attacks throughout Mumbai catapulted the bustling Indian
metropolis into chaos. In the heart of the city’s tourist
district, Jihadist terrorists laid siege to the iconic Taj
Palace Hotel, whose guests and staff became trapped in a
heroic, day-long fight for survival.

“This is a powerful movie that we think will really resonate
with audiences across the whole of UK and Ireland. And,
similarly to our other releases, Sky Cinema customers will be
able to watch on the same day that Hotel Mumbai is released
into cinemas” said Julia Stuart, Head of Acquisitions at Sky
Cinema Original Films, “following on from the success of
Extremely Wicked, we’re delighted to be able to share another
film that shares a true story with an engaged audience.”

Hotel Mumbai features an ensemble cast that includes Dev Patel
(Slumdog Millionaire, Lion), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your
Name, The Social Network), Jason Isaacs (The Death Of Stalin,
Harry Potter), Nazanin Boniadi (Counterpart, Homeland) and
Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook, The Big Sick). It will
be released in UK and Irish cinemas and be available on Sky
Cinema from 27th September 2019.

The Sartorialist. India by
Scott Schuman and Bandana

Tewari
An intoxicating mix of colour, pattern, and texture, The
Sartorialist: India is a photographic tribute to the country’s
diversity and splendour. Famed American photographer and
blogger Scott Schuman journeyed to India many times to capture
its wildly idiosyncratic styles, whether on the streets, in
markets, on the cricket fields, or at residences in cities
like Delhi, Jaipur, Pushkar, and Mumbai.

Schuman’s affinity for his subjects is evident, and he
celebrates people of all ages and from all walks of life, from
ravers,    transgender    subjects,    wrestlers,    surfers,
grandfathers, and fashionistas to children and labourers. He
also shines a light on the new India as much as on the time-
honoured. The casually chic layering of textiles, the enduring
prevalence of traditional attire, and India’s pure physical
beauty all add up to a richly satisfying visual and cultural
experience. The images are also illuminated by an introduction
by the acclaimed fashion writer Bandana Tewari.

This vibrant monograph is Schuman’s first for TASCHEN, and it
showcases all the unique qualities that have brought him
worldwide renown: a photojournalist’s eye for a decisive
moment, a humanist’s sense of empathy, and a fashion
aficionado’s appreciation for design.

             The Sartorialist. India
             by Scott Schuman, Bandana Tewari, Reuel Golden
             Published in Hardcover (20 Sep 2019)
             Publisher: Taschen GmbH
             Language: English, Multilingual
              ISBN-10: 3836577070
              Available in Hardcover Edition
Guide Price: £60
Click to buy Hardcover edition.

Channel 4’s Great British
Bake Off returns for its 10th
series
The Great British Bake Off (GBBO), the ultimate baking battle
where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the
UK’s Best Amateur Baker, returns on Tuesday 27th August 2019
at 8pm on Channel 4. Over the course of 10 hour-long episodes,
the series follows the trials and tribulations of the
competitors, young and old, from every background and every
corner of Britain, as they attempt to prove their baking
prowess. Each week the bakers tackle a different baking skill,
which become progressively more difficult as the competition
unfolds.

Presented by Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding, GGBO judges
include Paul Hollywood, one of the UK’s leading artisan bakers
and Prue Leith is one of the country’s foremost culinary
experts. Among this year’s cohort is Priya, a 34 year old
marketing consultant from Leiceater whose first foray into
baking started with an after-school baking club at primary
school.

Priya, 34
Leicester
Marketing Consultant

Priya’s first foray into baking started with an after-school
baking club at primary school. Then, ten years ago she began
baking more seriously as a means to help her relax. When she
was given a stand mixer as a wedding gift seven years ago, she
went ‘baking bonkers’. She now bakes with such enthusiasm that

she’s been known to bake bread well into the night and
delivers bags of bakes to appreciative friends and family.

A freelance marketing consultant and self-confessed
perfectionist, Priya lives in her home town of Leicester with
her husband and two children, and is writing her first novel.
She’s recently started experimenting with vegan baking and
loves tropical, fruity flavours. When her kids are older,
she’d love to travel the world tasting sweet and savoury
treats – a sort of ‘around the world in 80 bakes’.

*What’s it like having made it into the Tent?

I downloaded the application for Bake Off in 2012 the year I
got married but I thought I would never get in. I applied
again last year, and then this year I got in and it was so
dreamy and unreal. I was in no doubt it would change my life.
And it taught me to pursue the things you love, and you just
have to go for it.

*In the very first week what special memories do you have of
that time?

I think just walking around the grounds and walking into the
tent for the first time. And when I saw the field that
previous bakers have gazed out on. I heard the music in my
ears as I walked down the steps.

*You are asked to make a cake that signifies one of the
happiest days of your life. What would it be and why…and what
would it be made of?

I would make a fun looking book. Every night we read a story
together with my two boys, it would be a picture book
decorated with dragons, dinosaurs, fairies and magic. Lots of
fondant icing, as that is what my kids love, and a chocolate
sponge, as they love that too.

*Who   will   be     the   most    surprised    out   of   your

friends/workmates/family that you have made it to Bake Off
[that you haven’t revealed the secret to]?

I have kept in touch with people from work. I have recently
left and I think they are going to be the most shocked.

*If you could be stuck in a lift with a previous Baker who
would it be and why?

Nadiya – I am so inspired and in awe of her, she is so
accomplished – she is the girl next door, someone you could
easily have a good conversation with.

Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
Jo Brand is here, and each week she’ll be shining a light on
all the goings on from inside the tent on The Great British
Bake Off: An Extra Slice. With the help of a celebrity panel,
Jo will be serving up an extra helping of unseen moments
straight from the tent, as well as devouring the tasty
offerings brought in by the studio audience. And if that isn’t
enough, Jo and her panel will also be joined by the latest
baker to leave the tent to get all the gossip from their time
on the show – highs, lows and soggy bottoms all included.

Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice is on Fridays at 8pm on
Channel 4.

For         further          information                visit
https://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/

Mrs          Kapoor’s                 Daughter’s

Wedding, launches second UK
Tour
Bollywood-inspired stage spectacle, Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s
Wedding, launches second UK Tour from 15th – 22nd September
2019. Hailed one of the best British Asian theatre productions
of recent years, championed by audiences and critics alike,
Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding is an intimate invite into a
typical Asian household as it prepares for a wedding in the
family, with all the Bollywood trimmings.

Uniting onstage YouTube sensation Parle Patel; West End singer
Shahid Abbas Khan; and singer Drupti Vaja, Mrs Kapoor’s
Daughter’s Wedding is a laugh out loud, comedy-dance
production for a family audience that follows the life of Mrs
Kapoor, played by Parle Patel, who is mother to five
daughters, one of whom is getting married.

The production is packed with cultural reference points and
nuances, bursting with colour, energy and live comedy sketches
that will resonate with audiences of all ages. Bollywood
dancing that showcases the craft of AK Bollywood dancers is
harmonised with live singing, a fashion show and Rhythm ‘n’
Bass dhol players to create a stage extravaganza unique to the
UK stage.

Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding is written, directed and
choreographed by Archana Kumar, Winner, UK Battle of
Bollywood; and Founder, AK Productions and AK Bollywood Dance.
The production is a collaboration between AK Productions and
AK Bollywood Dance that will tour a team of 35 dancers,
actors, singers, dhol (drum) players and production staff. The
dancers originate from the London-based AK Bollywood Dance
group that have featured in Bollywood productions such as the
2018 film release Namastey England as well as at major events
in and around the Capital such as Diwali on the Square, held

by the Mayor of London in London’s Trafalgar Square.

Tour Venues and Dates
Sunday 15th September 2019
Watford Colosseum (Matinee     Performance:   1.30pm;     Evening
Performance: 6.30pm)

Saturday 21st September2019
St George’s Hall Bradford (Matinee Performance: 2.30pm)

Sunday 22nd September 2019
Leicester Haymarket (Matinee Performance: 1.30pm; Evening
Performance: 6.30pm)

Ticket Purchase via: www.mkdw.co.uk

Sikh family introduced in BBC
One’s long-running series
‘Eastenders’
Long running BBC One series ‘Eastenders’ has cast a Sikh
family, a first in its long history, with a new trio of
brothers who are heading to Walford in the autumn of this year
– and they soon find themselves clashing with an existing
Albert Square clan! The Panesars are a British Asian family of
the Sikh faith and are formed of siblings, Keerat Panesar (Jaz
Deol), Jagvir Panesar (Amar Adatia) and Pavinder Panesar
(Vinny) (Shiv Jalota).

Eldest brother Kheerat will arrive as a successful businessman
so he’s bound to ruffle some feathers with his no-nonsense
attitude. With flashy clothes and expensive watches, he leads

an envious lifestyle and his younger brothers look up to him.
Middle brother Jags is constantly irritating his siblings by
trying too hard to imitate his big brother, while youngest
Vinny is the troublemaker amongst them.

Executive Producer, Jon Sen, has said they’ll “bring their own
unique blend of charm and chaos onto The Square.”