Born and raised in Greater Manchester, Sacha has become a familiar face on our screens, following his hugely successful film, television and stage career.
In 2023 he starred in the bloody BBC One crime drama 'Wolf', playing the terrifying, but funny DI Honey, who it soon becomes clear isn't quite the man he first seems. Soon to star in another major thriller series, 'Iris' for Sky, from the creator of Luther, starring alongside Tom Hollander.
Amongst his other recent roles, he is known for portraying the renegade Time Lord known as ‘The Master’ in Series 12 of ‘Doctor Who’ in 2020, opposite Jodie Whittaker. He delivered ‘a gripping performance’ as the Doctor’s alter ego and returned to the role in 2022 to star in 'Doctor Who: The Power of The Doctor', the epic feature length finale for the thirteenth doctor, as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations.
He is also known for playing Catherine's great ally Count Orlo in Hulu’s Emmy winning epic anti-historical drama ‘The Great’, based on the rise of Catherine The Great of Russia. As part of the ensemble on The Great he received a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award in both 2021 and 2022. The latest series (S3) was released on Channel 4 in 2024.
In 2022 he played a leading role in the Channel 4 crime drama ‘Suspect’, an adaptation of the original Danish series Forhøret which also starred James Nesbitt and Richard E. Grant.
He is known for starring as the lead, Sathnam, in the award-winning, BAFTA nominated BBC feature length drama ‘The Boy With The Topknot’. The film was based on the critically acclaimed memoirs of Sathnam Sanghera with The Times writing that “Sacha Dhawan’s performance as Sanghera was beautifully controlled”. It was BBC2’s highest-rated single drama of 2017.
In 2020 he played Dr Sharma in the BBC’s adaptation of ‘Dracula’ created by Sherlock creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Prior to that he starred as Marvel villain ‘The Steel Serpent’ in the Netflix series ‘Iron Fist’. He played Dev in Kay Mellor’s BBC drama series ‘In the Club’ about a group of expectant parents who meet at prenatal classes, also starring Hermione Norris. He starred in Series 4 of ITV’s ‘Mr Selfridge’ playing Harry Selfridge’s shady business partner Jimmy Dillon. In 2015 he starred alongside Zawe Ashton and Samuel Barnett in the award-winning Channel 4 comedy drama ‘Not Safe for Work’ in which he “stole the show” (The Telegraph).
Other high profile shows he has had major roles in include playing Naveed Shabazz in the Emmy-nominated ‘24: Live Another Day’ (Day 9) and playing dodgy detective Manish Prasad in Series 2 of the BBC’s critically acclaimed police procedural drama ‘Line of Duty’. He also starred as Paul in Series 1 of the BAFTA Award winning BBC drama ‘Last Tango in Halifax’.
Sacha has appeared in many other highly acclaimed films and TV shows including the BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated 2015 film ‘The Lady In The Van’ starring Maggie Smith, Paul Abbott’s Channel 4 police drama ‘No Offence’, Emmy-winning and BAFTA nominated Channel 4 cult dark comedy ‘Utopia’, BBC fantasy drama ‘Being Human’, BBC drama ‘The Deep’ and the BBC’s multiple Emmy and BAFTA winning ‘Sherlock’. He also appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2013 sci-fi feature film ‘After Earth’ with Will Smith and Sophie Okonedo.
In 2007 he won an RTS Breakthrough on Screen Award for his portrayal of Karim in the BAFTA nominated Channel 4 non-fictional drama ‘Bradford Riots’.
On stage, he played Akhtar as part of the original London and Broadway cast of Alan Bennett’s multi-award winning play ‘The History Boys’, which was made into a hugely popular feature film in which he reprised the same role. Further theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s ‘Allelujah’ at the Bridge Theatre as well as plays at the National Theatre, The Royal Exchange and The Royal Court.
Recently shortlisted for the 2024 BBC Audio Drama Awards for his role in BBC Radio 4's Anna Karenina. Also in 2024 he starred in an episode of BBC Four's 'The Read' where leading actors perform dramatised narrations of classic novels, with an "electrifying and fresh approach" to George Orwell's iconic dystopian story '1984'.
He has voiced a number of animated characters in shows such as The Prince, Go Jetters & Chuggington (see credits) as well as many video game characters including ‘Anthem’, ‘World of Warcraft’, ‘Lego Marvel Superheroes’ ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Dragon Quest XI’.
Sacha was born in Stockport and has a native Stockport/Manchester accent. His accent ability is strong, ranging from West Midlands (Wolverhampton) which he used in The Boy With The Topknot to London in Not Safe from Work.
Age Range
Accents
Manchester*, Northern, Indian, West Midlands, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, South Asian
Styles
Comedy, Rich, Recognisable, Credible, Characterful, Natural Reads, Regional, Home Studio, Animated Characters, Legals, Energetic, Promos
Credits
The Read: 1984 (TV, 2024) – 'Narrator', BBC Four/BBC iPlayer
The Great (TV, 2020-2024) – 'Orlo', Hulu/Channel 4, Series 1-3
Wolf (TV, 2023) – 'DI Honey', BBC One
Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor (TV, 2022) – 'The Master', BBC One
Suspect (TV, 2022) – Jaisal/Jake, Channel 4
The Prince (Animation, 2021) – 'Teddy', HBO
Dracula (TV, 2020) – 'Dr Sharma', BBC One
Doctor Who (TV, 2020) – 'The Master', BBC, Series 12
Thunderbirds are Go (Animation, 2020) – 'Stew', Prime Video, Series 3
Go Jetters (Animation, 2019) – 'Lhakpa Dorjee', CBeebies, Episode 'Himalayan Heroes, Nepal'
Allelujah (The Bridge Theatre, 2018) (Theatre, 2018) – 'Dr Valentine', Bridge Theatre
The Boy with the Topknot (Film, 2017) – 'Sathnam Sanghera', BBC
Sherlock (TV, 2017) – 'Ajay', BBC One, Series 4
Iron Fist (TV, 2017-2018) – 'Davos/The Steel Serpent', Netflix/Disney +
Mr Selfridge (TV, 2016) – 'Jimmy Dillon', ITV, Series 4
In The Club (TV, 2014-2016) – 'Dev', BBC One
Not Safe for Work (TV, 2015) – 'Danny', Channel 4
The Lady in the Van (Film, 2015) – 'Doctor', BBC Films/Tristar Pictures
No Offence (TV, 2015) – 'Majid', Channel 4, Series 1
24: Live Another Day (TV, 2014) – 'Naveed Shabazz', Fox/Sky One
Line of Duty (TV, 2014) – 'Manish Prasad', Series 2, BBC One
Utopia (TV, 2014) – 'Paul Simpson', Channel 4, Series 2
After Earth (Film, 2013) – 'Hesper Pilot', Columbia Pictures
Last Tango in Halifax (TV, 2012) – 'Paul', BBC One, Series 1
Being Human (TV, 2012) – 'Pete', BBC Three, Series 4
Five Days (TV, 2010) – 'Khalil Akram', BBC/HBO, Series 2
The Deep (TV, 2010) – 'Vincent', BBC One
Chuggington (Animation, 2008-2009) – 'Eddie', CBeebies/BBC iPlayer, 38 episodes
Bradford Riots (TV, 2006) – 'Karim', Channel 4
The History Boys (film) (Film, 2006) – 'Akhtar', BBC Films
The History Boys (play) (Theatre, 2004-2006) – 'Akhtar', Royal National Theatre, International Tour and Broadhurst Theatre
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