Punjabi singer, Garry Sandhu, is one of British Asian music’s biggest stars who is set to return to Birmingham after he was removed from the UK eight years ago as an illegal immigrant. He will be headlining Bhangra extravaganza E3UK Live at Arena Birmingham in November.
Since his arrest in 2011, the singer has produced hit after hit in India’s charts and has conquered Bollywood. At first his return back to India left the star penniless, however now he has millions of fans across the world and lives a celebrity lifestyle.
Sandhu had arrived in the UK in 2002 and lived in Rowley Regis, Birmingham up until 2012. At this point, the singer was beginning to progress to stardom in his career with his 2010 debut single ‘Main Nee Peenda’ establishing his place in the bhangra industry.
After this, he released a string of chart-topping singles and went on to win the Best Male Act at the Brit Asia Awards in 2011. However, he was soon after arrested by authorities in which Sandhu reached out to his fans on his Facebook page stating, “Big hello everyone. Sorry I haven’t spoken to all of you in a while… I wanted to let all my fans know that I am going back to India tomorrow. Never gonna forget all the love you have all shown me. I Hope to see you lot soon… Wherever I go in the world, I will still appreciate the love and support you all give me. Will never forget you.”
At the time of the incident, fans had felt that the singer deserved to stay in the UK and believe the authorities had poorly treated him. After his departure from the UK, Sandhu rebuilt his career and found success again with his songs regularly featuring in Bollywood productions. Alongside making his acting debut in Romeo Ranjha (2014), he went to establish his record label, Fresh Media Records, and also his fashion line, Fresh.
Commenting on his past, the singer stated, “I am moulded by my past, and although I cannot change things, I have learned a great deal over the last ten years. I deeply regret and am remorseful for my past actions when it comes to my immigration history in the UK.
“Staying within the remit and boundaries of the law is something every upstanding citizen should do. I am grateful to all my fans and the UK Immigration services and Home Office for allowing me the opportunity to return back to the UK.
“My life stopped here eight years ago, but now, destiny has brought me back. England was my musical birthplace, my identity and my home. I achieved so much in the last eight years and travelled the world, but my life felt incomplete. Today my biggest dream has come true as I feel I have come back home.”
A spokesman for E3UK Live stated, “Headlining UK’s biggest Bhangra festival event of the year in his adopted home town of Birmingham later this year, life seems to have come full circle for Garry.”
Navkiran Bains
