Unforgotten star Sanjeev Bhaskar has revealed his dashed dreams of becoming an international TV sensation, which also led to him gaining weight and losing money after the project was axed at the last minute.
The 61 year old actor was poised to headline Inspector Singh Investigates, a three-part series set to be shot in south-east Asia and broadcast globally, including in the US, Australia, and South Africa.
However, due to financial issues with Britbox International, which is owned by Studios, the project was cancelled last minute, leaving Sanjeev with more than just a bruised ego.
“The main character was a Singapore-based sleuth who was really overweight, so I got fat by eating anything and everything for an appreciable period of time,” Sanjeev shared.
“But the financing on Inspector Singh Investigates fell apart, it was no longer happening, leaving me to lose a stone and a half.”
The beloved actor from Goodness Gracious Me and Kumars at No 42, who is set to return as DI Sunny Khan in ITV’s Unforgotten this Sunday, now regrets bulking up for the role. “I’d never do anything like this again,” he confessed.
“Putting on the weight was fun to begin with – I just said yes to everything – but after about a month of eating very fattening things I started to crave salads because I felt so unhealthy,” reports The Mirror.
The 61 year old actor was poised to headline Inspector Singh Investigates (Image: Getty )
Sanjeev also detailed the tough journey of shedding the extra pounds after the show’s cancellation. And unfortunately, it’s what no-one wants to hear – there’s no quick fix.
“I did it by eating less – it took me a fairly uncomfortable year and a half to get back to where I was before I started gorging on everything,” he lamented.
Shamini Flint’s popular novel series is brought to life by the immensely lovable character of Inspector Singh, known for “a taste for curry and a nose for crime”, who Sanjeev was excited to portray. “Inspector Singh is unlike any part I’ve played or any cop I’ve seen. The fact that Singh is unfit and loves food seems like a perfect fit for me,” he said.
The three-parter was penned by successful screenwriter Paul Logue, famed for credits including Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, and Vera. The programme was to follow the titular star in his mission to unravel perplexing murder cases, each deeply intertwined with the culture of various Asian countries.
The debut series would have seen Sanjeev shooting in Kuala Lumpur, portraying the inspector probing what looks to be a straightforward verdict against a high-profile Singaporean model embroiled in a death row murder charge.
Unforgotten airs Sunday on ITV at 9pm.