Asad Shan Explained

Asad Shan
Birth Name:Asad Shan
Birth Place:London, England, UK
Occupation:Actor, Filmmaker, TV Presenter and Real Estate Investor.
Years Active:2012–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.

Early life

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

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. In 2004, Asad won the Mr. Asia UK competition. 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. 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. 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".

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.

Asad is currently filming his first drama serial called "Aabgeenay" written by Qaisra Hayat and directed by Nadeem Siddique.

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.

Personal life

Asad enjoys playing Sunday league football and Docklands tennis league in London. He played tennis at the UK county level. He loves outdoor sports and is a keen hiker.

Filmography

Year FilmRoleProductionDirectorNotes
2005The WaiterRajuLes Beauchistes/O2 Mobiles Nilesh Patel
2005The Room MateJayNew York Film AcademyRuchir Garg
2005What IfTomNew York Film AcademyChung K. Park
2006Ya AliSelf/ ModelKunika LalKabir SadanandMusic Video
2008Never Ending StorySunnyKala Ghoda Film FestivalRanjeeta Kaur
2010 Manali Cream[11] KalB3 Productions Navdeep Khandola
2012 7 Welcome to LondonJaiIconic Productions UK Ltd.Asad Shan
2017London LifeRajKaybee PicturesNaveen MedaramPost Production
2022An Action HeroImaadYellow Colour Films / T series Anirudh IyerReleased worldwide / Netflix
2023Tell me about it Kidnapper Pageful Productions Suman HanifPost Production

Theatre productions

YearPlayRoleProductionDirector
2005The IndividualRayCPS Stage London
2005Talking With AngelsJasonCPS Stage London
2005The Glass MenagerieJim O'ConnerNew York Film Academy
2005 In God We TrustJoeNYFCLee Strafford
2005East Is EastTariqNYFA TheatreJohn Stafford

Television

YearTitleRoleProduction
2005The SalonSelf/ Mr. Asia UKChannel 4
2007BBC Desi DNASelfBBC Asia
2008 Brits AbroadSelfCurrent TV
2007–08Express, Star StopVj AsadB4U Music
2008GPLSelfMTV India
2010–presentBrits BollywoodVj AsadZing (TV channel)
2013–presentGrinds My TeethVj AsadZing (TV channel)
2015–presentZing JukeBoxVj Asad
2018AabgeenayShahzadGEO TV (TV channel)

Commercials

YearAdvertisementRoleProduction
2006Fair & Lovely Men's ActiveModelFair & Lovely
2006 Ayurveda Body Butter CreamModelAyurveda
2007Škoda OctaviaModelŠkoda Octavia
2007Hero HondaModelHero Honda
2010LG F1ManTh2ng, Nick Meikle
2010William HillSilent Terrace ManThe Bank Film Company, Ian Cassie
2012–presentSky (UK and Ireland)ModelSky (UK and Ireland)

Modelling

YearDesigner/ShowNotes
2005–06London Fashion WeekRamp Model
2006-08Wills Lifestyle India Fashion WeekRamp Model
2006-08Lakme India Fashion WeekRamp Model
2007-08Options Brand Ambassador
2007–08Boy LondonBrand Ambassador
2007 Matrix Hair Model Fashion ShowModel
2008 Indian Contemporary & Classic CoutureModel
2008 Roberto CavalliModel
2008Kiran Gidwani Model

See also

Notes and 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. Web site: Miss & Mr Asia 2003 . missasia.co.uk . 28 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172124/http://www.missasia.co.uk/mrasia/mrasia2001.htm . 3 March 2016 .
  3. Web site: '7 Welcome To London' becomes most successful British Hindi film ever. Digital Spy. 28 June 2015. 2012-03-15.
  4. Web site: B4U adds Asad Shan & Khushboo to VJ troupe. Radioandmusic.com. 28 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Zing doubles up 'Grinds My Teeth' on demand. media247.co.uk. 28 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630140102/http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/zing-doubles-up-grinds-my-teeth-on-demand. 30 June 2015. dead.
  6. Web site: Home. iconicproductionsuk.com. 28 June 2015.
  7. Web site: Model Asad Shan rocks "7 Welcome to London" – UrbanAsian. UrbanAsian. 28 June 2015. 2012-01-25.
  8. Web site: Bollywood Fraternity Show Their Support for 7 Welcome to London | Welcome to Close-Up Film | Film Reviews, Film News, Film Interviews . 22 April 2012 . 9 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140409002436/http://www.close-upfilm.com/2012/03/bollywood-fraternity-show-their-support-for-7-welcome-to-london/ . dead .
  9. Web site: Welcome londonlifefilm.com - Justhost.com. just host. londonlifefilm.com. 28 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150701002531/http://www.londonlifefilm.com/cast.html. 1 July 2015. dead.
  10. Web site: BizAsia.co.uk - the UK's only Asian media news website - News, Features, Interviews, Jobs, Events, Ratings, Bollywood . 2010-11-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101218113228/http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2010/05/zingas_abrits_b.php . 18 December 2010.
  11. http://aodl.mirocommunity.org/video/195/manali-cream-clip{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}