Dame Meera Syal has spoken about the unusual circumstances of her marriage to Sanjeev Bhaskar, her co-star in the comedy series "The Kumars at No. 42." Syal, who was cast as the grandmother Sushil 'Ummi' Kumar when she was 40, married Bhaskar, who played her grandson Sanjeev, in 2005.
"It was a bit weird that the man I would go on to marry was playing my grandson," Syal told hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett on the "Dish Podcast." "But that's acting, isn't it?"
Syal and Bhaskar first met while working on the sketch show "Goodness Gracious Me," which aired from 1996 to 2001. Their close friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship. Bhaskar revealed that their romance began during a flight to Australia in 2003, where the extended travel time allowed them to realize their feelings for each other.
The couple married in January 2005 in a private ceremony in Staffordshire. They have one son together, Shaan, who is 20 years old. Syal also has a daughter, Chameli, from her previous marriage to journalist Shekhar Bhatia, which ended in 2002.
Reflecting on her casting in "The Kumars at No. 42," which ran from 2001 to 2006, Syal explained that the role required strong improvisational skills. She noted that while older actresses were auditioned, they lacked the necessary improvisational ability. Syal found the character of a "hand grenade of a granny" appealing due to her provocative, mischievous, and internet-savvy nature, which contrasted with typical portrayals of older women.
Syal also shared an anecdote about Queen Elizabeth II, who was reportedly a fan of the show. According to Syal, the late monarch once expressed that she found the "old lady" in "The Kumars at No. 42" very funny.