Indian-American Hollywood mega-producer to receive honorary doctorate from the University of East London

Ashok Amritraj’s hits include “Bringing down the House” and “Blue Valentine”.

From the courts of Wimbledon to the Hollywood red carpet, Ashok Amritraj has spent most of his professional life blazing new trails.

As one of Hollywood’s most respected producers, Mr Armitraj has brought over 100 films to life, creating a remarkable $2 billion in worldwide revenues.

Now, for his achievements, Mr Amritraj will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of East London. The ceremony is taking place at The O2 on 19 November.

“When I count my blessings, I am grateful for having smashed a path or several paths through the very dense and self-protective thickets of an art and industry which appear, and are in reality, daunting,” Mr Amritraj says.

Born in Chennai, India, Mr Amritraj won acclaim as a young man through his achievements on the tennis court. Mr Amritraj played in every major professional tennis tournament, including Wimbledon and the US Open, and represented India in international competitions.

His filmography includes hits such as “Bringing down the House”, “Premonition”, “Machete”, “Blue Valentine” and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”. He has worked with numerous stars including Robert DeNiro, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Aniston, and Andrew Garfield and built relationships with studio heads, politicians and royalty.

Ashok views his company, Hyde Park Entertainment Group, as an alternative to the traditional Hollywood movie system. He uses his influence to connect east with west, promoting collaborations among talented filmmakers and others across India, Asia and the United States.

The ceremony will take place at 2:30pm at indigo at The O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX.