Unforgotten legend confirmed for The Split spin-off series as star-studded cast revealed

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The cast for ‘The Split Up,’ a new series inspired by ‘The Split,’ has been revealed. It will tell a completely original story with a fresh set of characters.

Created by Ursula Rani Sarma (known for *Delicious*) and executive produced by Abi Morgan (*The Split*), the new legal drama will feature Sanjeev Bhaskar (*Unforgotten*) and Ritu Arya (*The Umbrella Academy*) playing father-and-daughter lawyers, Aria and Dhruv Kishan.

I’ve been following the Kishan family for a while now, and it’s fascinating! Aria is all set to lead Kishan Law, the firm her family built, but her mother’s recent passing has really made her father, Dhruv, question whether she’s truly ready to handle everything on her own. It’s a classic story of legacy and parental worry, and I’m really invested in seeing how it plays out.

As Aria prepares to marry her partner, Neal (Danny Ashok), their relationship faces challenges. Their lives are so closely connected, both personally and professionally, that they struggle to cope with mounting pressure. The situation becomes even more complicated when a past love interest (Dimitri Leonidas) unexpectedly shows up in Manchester.

Aria, along with her sister Maya and brother Kav, faces difficult choices that test family bonds and relationships. She’s forced to consider a fundamental question: should you prioritize living for yourself or for others?

Joining Arya in this project are Mawaan Rizwan, known for his role in ‘Juice’; Sindhu Vee from ‘That Christmas’; Shalini Peiris, who appeared in ‘The White Lotus’; Tom Forbes of ‘Bookish’; the renowned Sir Lenny Henry (‘The Sandman’); and Jane Horrocks (‘Here We Go’), along with Bhaskar, Ashok, Leonidas, Kala and Nik.

I’ve long been a fan of ‘The Split’ and Abi Morgan’s work, so I was thrilled to be asked to create ‘The Split Up,'” said Sarma. “As a writer who believes in showcasing diverse stories, it’s incredibly rewarding to put a modern British South Asian family at the heart of the show.”

Having a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives helps us learn and grow, makes our narratives more interesting, and truly represents who we are as a community. We’re excited to see our incredible actors, Ritu and Sanjeev, portray the Kishan family. We know audiences will love meeting them and watching their story unfold.

Morgan also explained that it was a fantastic opportunity to build on the success of ‘The Split’ and nurture a new wave of British South Asian actors and writers. They aimed to create a fresh, relatable family of lawyers whose lives – both at work and at home – were realistically complicated, and lead writer Ursula Rani Sama brought that vision to life beautifully.

“I hope audiences will take it to their hearts.”

Filming has started in Manchester for a new six-episode series, as the BBC celebrates six decades of broadcasting programs about South Asia this month.

He expressed his excitement about the show, saying he was proud to be part of a project that realistically portrays the complex and sometimes dramatic lives of British Asians – including their relationships, struggles, and everything in between.

Watch the full Pass the Mic interview with Kaamil Shah here:

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2025-10-14 13:35