In 2006 , Patel began his acting career when he auditioned for the E4 teen drama television series '' Skins '' . Patel 's mother saw the casting advert in '' Metro ( British newspaper ) '' and took him to the audition even though he had a science exam the next day . After two auditions , he was cast in the role of Anwar Kharral , a British Pakistani Muslim teenager . The characterisation of Anwar was partly based on Patel 's personality and the role was written specifically for him after he was cast in '' Skins '' . Patel , who had no professional acting experience , said that on " the first day of shooting I did n't really know what to do . " The first series of the show aired in January 2007 and went on to win the Rose d'Or for Drama in 2008 and receive a nomination for Best Drama Series at the 2008 BAFTA Television Awards . Patel reprised his role as Anwar for the second series of '' Skins '' , which aired in February 2008 . The second series of '' Skins '' won the Philips Audience Award at the 2009 BAFTA Television Awards
2009 BAFTA Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards 2009
Dev Patel