British Asians who bounced to the top

Eastenders actress Nina Wadia dances on a bouncy castle in a new exhibition showing the changing face of the Asian community in Britain.

The star, who played bossy matriarch Zainab Masood in the soap, is seen alongside photographs of twin sister artists Amrit and Rabindra Singh and cricket star Lasith Malinga.

The Brown Brits project by journalist Shekhar Bhatia showcases figures from politics, arts and media. Bhatia was in-spired by the social mobility of the Asian community over the past 50 years.

Among his subjects is his ex-wife, actress Meera Syal. He said: “Meera was one of my favourite pictures to take but also one of the hardest. I photographed her in New York and I had to walk for miles through the rain with my camera to meet her. It stopped working after one frame so that’s all I had.”

MP Rushanara Ali is also featured. Bhatia said: “She defeated George Galloway in Bethnal Green and Bow and became the first Bangladeshi MP.”

The portraits will be at Roast restaurant, owned by Iqbal Wahhab, in Borough Market until October 1.