The cast has been announced for BBC Two’s one-off TV film based on the critically acclaimed memoirs of journalist Sathnam Sanghera.

In the Club star Sacha Dhawan will play the title role in the 90-minute drama, which is adapted by The Five writer Mick Ford.

Set in 1980’s Wolverhampton, The Boy With The Topknot is described as “a humorous, touching and emotional story of a second-generation Indian growing up in Britain and how he juggles his family, love life and career.”

Buy the book on Amazon here.

Joanna Vanderham (The Go-Between) will play Sathnam’s girlfriend Laura, alongside Anupam Kher (Bend it like Beckham) and Deepti Naval (Lion) as his parents.

The cast also includes Jaz Deol (Viceroy’s House), Vineeta Rishi (Line of Duty), Kriss Dosanjh (This Is England) and Manpreet Bambra (Wizards vs. Aliens).

Sacha Dhawan commented: “After reading Sathnam’s memoir; The Boy with the Topknot, I was so excited to hear that BBC, Kudos and Parti Productions were adapting it. Not only is it a beautiful story, but it’s also funny and immensely moving. I feel incredibly proud to be playing Sathnam, and look forward to telling a story, which has already touched so many people.”

Executive producer Nisha Parti added: “After a long and tough journey I am so grateful of the support from Kudos and to the BBC for greenlighting this film and taking the risk in allowing me to tell this difficult, emotional and relevant story. I hope it will speak to many second generation Asians who grew up without access to films like this, but hope it will resonate more widely. I am so thrilled to have assembled such a talented cast with both new and exciting British Asian talent working alongside such established actors that I grew up admiring.”

The official synopsis reads: “Born to Punjabi parents in the West Midlands, Sathnam’s memoirs are a humorous, touching and emotional story of a second-generation Indian growing up in Britain. His book is an account of his childhood and facing up to a bunch of painful family secrets and truths in his twenties – not least that his father and sister had suffered from schizophrenia – and that he was going to defy expectations of an arranged marriage.”

Directed by Lynsey Miller, The Boy with the Topknot begins filming in and around the West Midlands in May.

Are you looking forward to The Boy with the Topknot? Let us know below…