The son of first-generation Indian immigrants, he met his future writing partner, Richard Pinto, while attending Forest School, Walthamstow. He graduated in English from Queen Mary and Westfield, University of London (now Queen Mary, University of London), and joined a BBC script editing scheme.[3] He and Richard Pinto became part of the team behind Goodness Gracious Me, first on radio starting in 1996 and on TV from 1998 to 2001. They went on to work as writers for Small Potatoes (1999-2001)[4] and The Kumars at No. 42 (2001–2006).