A gathering worth more than £30 billion filled London’s Grosvenor House on Friday 19 September as the 23rd Asian Achievers Awards crowned some of the most influential figures in British Asian life.
The UK’s most prestigious celebration of South Asian achievement, the awards drew in billionaires, celebrities, sports icons and community leaders, reaffirming its reputation as the benchmark for excellence. More than 500 nominations were received nationwide, with winners spanning education, the arts, business, sport, media and humanitarian work.
Among those recognised was billionaire philanthropist Neerja Birla, music producer Rishi Rich, celebrated for pioneering Asian-R&B fusion and the Solanki family, whose brand Taj Foods has become a household name. Other winners included Indhu Rubasingham MBE, Artistic Director of the National Theatre; Sunny Gill Singh, the first British South Asian Premier League referee; and Prof Selva Pankaj, Co-founder and CEO of Regent Global.
A lifetime in broadcasting was marked as Ravi Sharma was honoured for his 50-year radio career, while retail giant Simon Arora was recognised for his success with B&M Stores.
Event organiser Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, said: “South Asians have again shown their resilience and ability to build Britain. But we also see entrepreneurs increasingly looking abroad, something policymakers must address to protect Brand Britain.”
Political leaders across the spectrum, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey, all sent messages of praise, showcasing the community’s pivotal role in the nation’s cultural and economic life.
Hosted by actor Nitin Ganatra OBE and Sky News presenter Anila Dhami, the night featured performances by Indian-Canadian star Raghav, comedian Eshaan Akbar, and Guinness record-holding acrobat Klodi Dabkiewicz. The red carpet was overseen by Nileeka Bose, choreographer for Marvel’s The Eternals.
Backed by partners including State Bank of India (UK), Hill House Interiors, Khoki United and think tank Bridge India, the Asian Achievers Awards once again confirmed its place as the flagship event honouring South Asian contribution to Britain.
The winners of the Asian Achiever Awards 2025 are:
Achievement in Art and Culture: Indhu Rubasingham MBE
Business Person of the Year: Prof Selva Pankaj
Achievement in Community Service: Syed Muhammad Faisal Sami
Special Award for Contribution to Broadcasting: Ravi Sharma
Special Award for Contribution to Music: Rishi Rich
Entrepreneur of the Year: Jimal, Nishal and Devik Solanki
Lifetime Achievement Award: Simon Arora
Achievement in Media: Emb Hashmi
Professional of the Year: Maulik Darji
Sports Personality of the Year: Sunny Singh Gill
Woman of the Year: Neerja Birla
