Style -- 6 hours ago
Industry's Sagar Radia enjoys big awards bashes and bigger suits
The Industry actor speaks exclusively to Gentleman's Journal as he takes on the Critics' Choice Awards
Sagar Radia is in Los Angeles on very important business. It’s his first time attending a big awards in the entertainment capital of the world, whereby he’ll be a nominee of an award: at the time of speaking, the actor is on his way to the Critics’ Choice Awards, where Industry is nominated for the Best Drama Series gong. Despite not winning - Shōgun came out on top, which he predicted - it’s not put a dampener on Radia’s spirit.
“We’ve been underdogs for so long that no one is convinced of a win,” he says from his hotel ahead of the ceremony. “I know it's corny to say, but I genuinely believe a nomination is a win. It’s the first time Industry has been nominated at the Critics’ Choice Awards, and it feels slightly esoteric and unreal at the moment,” the Harrow-born actor tells me, hours before he attends the awards ceremony at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport. “I think it’s quite trendy to say you hate LA, but I’m really into it. I love all of this stuff.”
Industry, which also stars Harry Lawtey and Marisa Abela, has had a massive impact on Radia’s life. Before that he'd had a role in The Good Karma Hospital. "We’ve been in the Industry world for six years now, and we’re filming the fourth season this year”, he explains. As well as changing his own life, he is aware that the show has also helped disrupt narratives surrounding South Asians, which he is proud of.
Speaking with Gentleman’s Journalin 2024, in the wake of his character Rishi Ramdani becoming a fan favourite, he said “it’s showing South Asian bankers as alpha males, which they’ve never been portrayed as before. That position is never usually assumed by a South Asian actor, and we’re always in a position that’s weaker. We’re always the best friend or sidekick. We’ve never been sexualised like Rishi, or get to drive nice cars like Rishi. Sure he has a bit of a grossly shiny look, but it’s telling a bigger story.”
Radia never imagined Industry becoming as popular as it is, both with audiences or with those nominating awards. “I don’t think any of us foresaw what the show was going to do,” he tells me. “It sort of went under the radar in season one, then season two got a bit more pick up, and then season three sort of catapulted into the zeitgeist a little, which at least I didn’t see coming.”
He puts it down to a whole host of facts, from HBO’s decision to move it from the Monday night slot to the coveted primetime Sunday night fixture, to the addition of Kit Harington and Sarah Goldberg to the cast. “A combination of things put us on the map, and now here we are with a Critics' Choice nomination. Although it’s HBO, it’s a UK cast and it all started with a relatively unknown cast.”
And for the awards, Radia wanted to get seriously dressed up. With the help of his stylist Holly White, who also caters to Luke Newton and Joe Locke, he opted for a “beautiful tuxedo” from Fursac. “Sometimes you go into a fitting with your stylist and you just know which one you’ll wear, and that’s what happened with this suit,” Radia shares.
The suit in question is from French brand Fursac, which recently debuted at Paris Fashion Week. Baby pink in hue, and satin to the touch, the suit has a decent amount of shine, and has been paired with black trousers, a solid black tie and an Omega watch. “Moving into the fashion space is something that I’m really enjoying. Before I got more involved, it always felt like it wasn’t for me, and I wasn’t cool enough for it. You always associate fashion with really good looking, 6 foot 3 men and I’m 5 foot 8 trying to get through life. I’m enjoying this moment of realisation.”
With a packed schedule - he’s currently on screens as the lead in the first ever Gallic drama An t -Eilean, he has wrapped an as yet untitled comedy drama with Riz Ahmed, while Industry season four filming should begin in the next couple of months - there will be plenty more opportunities to get dressed up. He’s hopeful that when the television awards season swings around, Industry might be favoured. “BAFTA TV Awards, Emmys and all that are coming, so hopefully we get recognised at those!”
Photography: Evan Mulling
Styling: Holly White
Grooming: Sydney Sollod
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