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Asian Achievers Awards 2026: An Evening of Excellence, Influence and South Asian Achievement in London.

BY THASMINA SOOKOOR September 29, 2026

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Nonita Kalra with Pratiek Dattani

London played host to a distinguished gathering of business leaders, entrepreneurs, cultural figures, media personalities and changemakers as the Asian Achievers Awards 2026 celebrated another remarkable year of South Asian achievement. Now in its 24th year, the prestigious ceremony has established itself as an important fixture on the British Asian calendar, recognising individuals whose accomplishments and influence extend across business, entrepreneurship, media, culture, sport, professional services and public life. Held at the Hilton Park Lane in London on the 18^th of September 2026, this year’s ceremony was an elegant convergence of achievement, influence, culture and community. The evening brought together established leaders and emerging voices while highlighting the increasingly significant contribution of South Asians to contemporary British society. Among the distinguished guests was Rishini Weeraratne, Editor of The Sun (Daily Mirror), who returned to the Asian Achievers Awards as a Member of the Jury. In another significant honour, she was invited on stage for the second consecutive year to present the Award for Media Personality of the Year. Her involvement was particularly notable during an evening in which several personalities with Sri Lankan connections were recognised among the finalists, placing Sri Lankan talent and leadership firmly within the wider celebration of South Asian excellence in Britain.

Sri Lankan Excellence in the Spotlight

The 2026 finalists reflected the extraordinary breadth of South Asian achievement in Britain. Among them were several individuals with Sri Lankan connections whose accomplishments span hospitality, law, communications, advertising and corporate leadership. Karan Gokani, Co-Founder of the popular Sri Lankan restaurant group Hoppers, was named a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year. Gokani has become a recognisable figure within Britain’s hospitality industry through Hoppers, which has brought Sri Lankan and South Indian inspired cuisine to a wide audience. His inclusion among the Entrepreneur of the Year finalists reflected both the success of the restaurant concept and the diversity of contemporary entrepreneurship represented at the awards. Another prominent finalist was Manthi Wickramasooriya, Partner at Quinn Emanuel, who was shortlisted for Professional of the Year. The category brought together accomplished professionals from law, academia, public service and business. Wickramasooriya was nominated alongside Fezaa Sheikh, Professor Shitij Kapur and Rushanka Amrutkar. His place among the finalists represented notable recognition of professional achievement within the legal sector and added to the strong Sri Lankan representation at the ceremony.

Farzana Baduel was also among the evening’s prominent finalists, receiving recognition in the Woman of the Year category. As Co-Founder and CEO of Curzon PR, Baduel has built a distinguished career within strategic communications and public relations. Her nomination placed her among an accomplished group of women representing sectors including academia, hospitality, healthcare and media. Joining her as a Woman of the Year finalist was Venya Wijegunerwardene, Chief Strategy Officer at Spark Foundry UK. Her nomination recognised leadership within the media, advertising and communications landscape and added another dimension to the Sri Lankan presence at the awards.

One of the evening’s major honours went to Chaitanya Tatineni, CEO of Curium Biopharma, who was named Professional of the Year. The award recognised Tatineni’s professional leadership and achievements at the helm of an international pharmaceutical organisation. His success in a category bringing together leaders from several very different professional disciplines also reflected the broad definition of excellence championed by the Asian Achievers Awards. Tatineni’s recognition was among the significant moments of the ceremony, celebrating the impact of South Asian leadership within global business and professional life.

Nonita Kalra Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Among the most distinguished accolades of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Nonita Kalra, Chief Creative Officer for Luxury, Fashion and Lifestyle at Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., the Times Group of India. The award recognised a career of sustained influence across fashion, publishing, lifestyle and media. Kalra is the former Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar India and was the founding Editor in Chief of Elle India. Through these influential roles, she established a prominent presence within Indian fashion and lifestyle publishing. In an evening dedicated to celebrating both emerging talent and established leadership, the Lifetime Achievement Award offered an opportunity to acknowledge the significance of a career built over many years. Kalra’s recognition was particularly resonant at a ceremony attended by leading personalities from media, culture, entrepreneurship and business. Her career has existed at the intersection of many of these worlds, making the honour one of the memorable moments of the 2026 awards.

Rishini Weeraratne presenting the award for Media Personality of The Year 2026

A Gathering of Leaders and Changemakers

The wider roll call of winners demonstrated the impressive breadth of talent celebrated by the Asian Achievers Awards.

Rajiv Batra, Executive Chairman of the Batra Group, received the Businessperson of the Year Award, while Sanjeet Manek was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Pravesh Kumar MBE, Founder and CEO of Rifco Theatre, received the Achievement in Art and Culture Award, while Dr. Pam Gosal MBE received the Achievement in Community Service Award.
Balvinder Singh Sanghera was recognised with the Achievement in Media Award.
In sport, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, formerly Medical Director at Arsenal Football Club, was named Sports Personality of the Year.
Manish Tiwari, Founder and CEO of Here & Now 365, received the Special Award for Contribution to Media, while art collector Gaurav Khullar received the Special Award for Contribution to Art.

Together with Nonita Kalra’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Chaitanya Tatineni’s Professional of the Year honour, the winners represented a remarkable cross section of South Asian accomplishment and influence.

An Evening of Culture and Entertainment

The ceremony was hosted by actor Nitin Ganatra OBE, with entertainment forming an important part of the evening. Guests were treated to performances featuring Rishi Rich and Ustad Rafaqat Ali Khan, while comedian and Man Like Mobeen star Tez Ilyas brought humour to the occasion with a stand-up performance. The combination of awards, music, comedy and conversation gave the evening the character of both a prestigious recognition ceremony and a celebration of contemporary South Asian culture. The event also received messages from senior political figures. Prime Minister Andy Burnham congratulated the winners and highlighted the longstanding role of the awards in recognising British Asian contribution. “For more than two decades, these awards have celebrated the outstanding contribution of British Asians,” he said, describing the ceremony as “such an important occasion in the calendar.” Messages were also shared by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, acknowledging the contributions made by South Asian communities across Britain.

Celebrating Success with Purpose

Beyond the glamour of the ceremony, the Asian Achievers Awards maintained an important focus on social impact. The charity partner for the 2026 event was Pardada Pardadi, an organisation dedicated to socially uplifting and economically empowering girls and women in Uttar Pradesh. Its work encompasses education, health and hygiene, community development and economic empowerment, bringing a wider sense of purpose to an evening centred on achievement and opportunity. The awards were organised by advisory firm EPG. Speaking about the 2026 programme, EPG Managing Director Pratik Dattani highlighted the importance of recognising the achievements of the British Asian community and expressed pride in the position the awards have established during their 24-year history.

An Enduring Celebration of Achievement

As the Asian Achievers Awards moves towards its quarter century, the 2026 ceremony demonstrated the enduring importance of recognising individuals whose work is making an impact in Britain and internationally. The evening celebrated established names while providing a platform for entrepreneurs, professionals and cultural figures shaping the next chapter of South Asian achievement. For the Sri Lankan community, the presence of Rishini Weeraratne as a Member of the Jury and an award presenter for the second consecutive year, together with the recognition of Manthi Wickramasooriya and Venya Wijegunerwardene as finalists, made the evening particularly noteworthy. Elegant, international and reflective of modern Britain, the Asian Achievers Awards 2026 was ultimately about far more than accolades. It was a celebration of ambition, heritage, leadership, creativity and community. Above all, it provided a fitting stage for individuals whose achievements continue to shape industries, influence conversations and inspire communities in Britain and around the world.