Deep Sehgal

{{short description|British film-maker}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2010}}

Deep Sehgal is a British film-maker whose work includes the Emmy nominated series Soul Deep, India with Sanjeev Bhaskar{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/indiapakistan/about.shtml |title=India Pakistan |access-date=2019-12-20 |archive-date=2007-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821212909/https://www.bbc.co.uk/indiapakistan/about.shtml |url-status=dead }} and Selling Jesus.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3076809.stm|title=The most watched film in history|access-date=26 January 2022|publisher=BBC News|date=21 July 2003|first1=Giles|last1=Wilson}}

After graduating with degrees in philosophy from the universities of Dundee and Grenoble, Sehgal trained as a journalist at Leeds University and started his career as a researcher in the documentary film unit at BBC Manchester. His first film as a producer was the British Film Institute/Channel Four drama "Sleep" which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 1999. The following year he directed his first film, a documentary about his mother entitled "The Good Son" for Channel Four.

He then moved to the BBC, eventually becoming a senior producer in the Specialist Factual unit at BBC Bristol. He was the director of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy segment in the BBC series Big Read, and made a number of documentary films that received popular and critical acclaim and won a number of international awards.

Amongst them was the music series Soul Deep which went on to receive the international Emmy nomination for best Arts Programme in 2006

He was also a founder of the BBC Film Lab which was created to help new directors make their first films. Sehgal established the independent production company Avatar Productions with actor Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Work as creator, executive producer and director includes the BBC period drama series The Indian Doctor. On 15 March 2011, the series was awarded the national Royal Television Society Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-12755586|title=RTS Awards 2011: Winners in full|date=16 March 2011|access-date=26 January 2022|publisher=BBC News}} Over three seasons it received nominations in 11 different categories at the BAFTA Cymru Awards including Best Drama series, winning three BAFTAs in the editing, costume design and acting categories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bafta.org/wales/awards/british-academy-cymru-awards/nominees-winners/2011|title=British Academy Cymru Awards Winners in 2011|date=29 May 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103163731/https://www.bafta.org/wales/awards/british-academy-cymru-awards/nominees-winners/2011|archivedate=3 January 2022|website=British Academy of Film and Television Arts}}{{Cite web |title=BAFTA Awards Search {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=https://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=indian+doctor |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=awards.bafta.org}}

Sehgal is also a published author. His work includes the book, India, which accompanied the BBC television series of the same name. The book went on to reach number 4 in The Sunday Times bestseller list.{{Cite web |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article2115347.ece |title=Passage back to the horror of India's partition, 60 years on – Times Online |access-date=2010-10-04 |archive-date=2011-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615164706/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article2115347.ece |url-status=dead }}

In 2021 Sehgal joined Motion Content Group, part of WPP, as Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.{{Cite web |last=televisual.com |last2=Creamer |first2=Jon |date=2021-12-01 |title=GroupM, Motion Content launch Positive Impact Production Funding |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/groupm-motion-content-launch-positive-impact-production-funding/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Televisual}} He is now responsible for a multi-million dollar partnership with Channel 4 that commissions television producers from under-represented groups.{{Cite web |title=Channel 4 and Motion Content Group launch Fund for ethnically diverse-led indies {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-and-motion-content-group-launch-fund-ethnically-diverse-led-indies |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=channel4.com}} Productions on which he has served as executive producer include the landmark documentary series Defiance{{Cite web |title=Channel 4 commissions a major three-part documentary series, Defiance (w/t) from Rogan Productions, Left Handed Films and GroupM Motion Entertainment {{!}} Channel 4 |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-commissions-major-three-part-documentary-series-defiance-wt-rogan-productions |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=channel4.com}} with Rogan Productions in association with Riz Ahmed's company Left Handed Films.

In July 2024 Defiance was shortlisted for the Grierson award, amongst the UK documentary film industry's highest accolades.{{Cite web |last=televisual.com |last2=Creamer |first2=Jon |date=2024-07-22 |title=BBC tops Grierson awards shortlist |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/bbc-tops-grierson-awards-shortlist/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Televisual}}