Racist attitudes are rife in Britain’s radio industry: Sanjeev Bhaskar

The 45-year-old husband of Indian-British actress Meera Syal criticised casting directors for their “lack of imagination” in failing to cast ethnic actors for non-ethnic roles.

“In radio dramas,I think the only times I’ve ever been approached are to play Asian characters. And that just really,really surprises me – no it shocks me,” Bhaskar told Radio 4.

“It just shows an utter lack of imagination. I’ve been sent Asian parts that didn’t even require an accent,so speaking in the way that I’m speaking now,” he added.

Bhaskar,who has recently played King Arthur in hit West End musical ‘Spamalot’ and will soon be seen in Gurinder Chadha’s film ‘It’s a Wonderful Afterlife’,said ethnic actors fared much better in theatre,thanks to “colour blind casting”.

“In the things I’ve done in theatre,none of them were written for an Asian character,” he said.