Balvinder Sopal picked up the Best TV Character award at the 10th Asian Media Awards.
Balvinder plays Suki Panesar on Eastenders and has been at the attention of some of the soaps most controversial storylines.
The 2022 Asian Media awards celebrated the achievements of journalists, broadcasters and leading creative industry professionals.
The ceremony hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah saw special awards for LBC News host Lisa Aziz, BBC 5Live broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake and acclaimed TV and stage actor Kulvinder Ghir of Goodness Gracious Me fame.
The awards honoured journalism, online, radio, TV, creative media, stage, theatre and live events in 23 categories and was back at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate where the first awards took place in 2013.
The Best TV Character award is supported by DKR Accountants and it was presented at the ceremony by Managing Partner Khuram Javed.
Speaking on stage Balvinder said: “Eastenders is brilliant. It is collaborative process and we have worked with the producers and writers to make sure we push stories so that we are not telling the same old story that we are oppressed by our culture and religion and our identity is a powerful thing.”
Balvinder’s character Suki Panesar, is the mother of the soap’s first Sikh family, who arrived on Albert Square in January 2020 and has since embedded herself in the community of Walford, with the Panesar family and Panesar business empire growing around her.
In such a short space of time, she has made a name for herself as a matriarch of EastEnders. Known for often speaking in her native Punjabi, her quick put downs, her sharp business brain and her unconventional way of showing pride and love for her family, the Square would really be a less interesting place without her.
The 2022 Asian Media Awards winners of all categories and special awards were revealed at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on Friday October 28.
Previous recipients of an Asian Media Award include Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Waris Hussein, Art Malik, Mehdi Hasan, Nina Wadia, Anita Rani, Shobna Gulati, Faisal Islam & Adil Ray.
The University of Salford are Premier Partners to the Asian Media Awards.
Partners to the awards include ITV, MediaCom, Reach PLC, Manchester Evening News & TheBusinessDesk.com.
The awards are also supported by Manchester Metropolitan University, AMT Lawyers, DKR Accountants, 6G Internet, Hilton Manchester Deansgate, Fritz AV, Payal Events & Cleartwo.
