Western celebrities born or raised in India

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Did you know that two of Hollywood's most famous actresses from the Golden Age of Cinema were born in India? Or that the author of the bleak dystopian novel 'Nineteen-Eighty Four' also hails from the subcontinent? Actually, you'll be surprised at how many Western celebrities come from this vast nation.

Click through and find out the British and American stars born or raised in India.

Erick Avari

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Born Nariman Eruch Avari in Darjeeling, India, on April 13, 1952, actor Erick Avari is a familiar face on television and on the big screen.

Ben Kingsley

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

While Ben Kingsley is British, born in Yorkshire on December 31, 1943 (and in fact raised in England), his father was from Jamnagar, in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kingsley's real name is Krishna Pandit Bhanji.

Joanna Lumley

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

A household name in the United Kingdom, English actress Joanna Lumley was born in Srinagar, British India on May 1, 1946.  

Cliff Richard

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Lucknow in British India was where Harry Roger Webb was born on October 14, 1940. Webb changed his name to Cliff Richard in the 1950s after returning to England with his family.

George Orwell (1903–1950)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

English novelist, essayist, and journalist George Orwell was born Eric Blair on June 25, 1903 in Motihari in British India.

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

George Orwell is particularly known for 'Animal Farm' (1945) and the bleak dystopian novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (1949). The term "Big Brother," which originates from the novel, is widely used as a synonym for abuse of government power and mass surveillance.

Freddie Mercury (1946–1991)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Freddy Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar on September 5, 1946. His parents were from India and in fact Mercury spent much of his childhood in Panchgani, near Bombay.

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

After returning to Zanzibar in 1964, Mercury and his family fled to England to escape a violent uprising against the Sultanate. Mercury would go on to achieve worldwide fame as the lead vocalist with the rock band Queen.

Vivien Leigh (1913–1967)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

British actress Vivien Leigh was born Vivien Mary Hartley on November 15, 1913 in Darjeeling, British India (British Raj). One of her best-known roles is that of Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind' (1939).

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Leigh, pictured with Clark Gable in a scene from 'Gone with the Wind,' is also celebrated for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the film version of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (1951). Both films earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Born in the wealthy Bombay (Mumbai) suburb of Malabar Hill, British India, on December 30, 1865, English journalist and author Rudyard Kipling was greatly influenced by the country.

Merle Oberon (1911–1979)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

For all her life, actress Merle Oberon concealed the truth about her parentage, claiming that she had been born in Tasmania, Australia. In fact, she came from Bombay, British India, where she entered the world on February 19, 1911. Oberon took her secret to the grave and it was only revealed many years later.

Karen David

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Shillong, a hill station and the capital of the Indian state of Meghalaya is where actress Karen David was born on April 15, 1979.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Born on July 11, 1811 in Calcutta, British India, English novelist and author William Makepeace Thackery is chiefly known for his satirical novel 'Vanity Fair,' published in 1848.

Julie Christie

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

English actress Julie Christie was born in Chabua, in the state of Assam, British India, on April 14, 1940.

Spike Milligan (1918–2002)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Born Terence Allen Milligan in Ahmednagar, British India, "Spike" Milligan grew up to become one of the most influential British comedians of his generation.

Gerald Durrell (1925–1995)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

English naturalist, writer, zookeeper, conservationist, and television presenter Gerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, British India, on January 7, 1925.

Engelbert Humperdinck

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, British Indian, on May 2, 1936, Engelbert Humperdinck is regarded by many music critics as one of the best romantic balladeers in the business.

Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

Erick Avari, Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley, Cliff Richard, George Orwell (1903–1950), Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), Merle Oberon (1911–1979), Karen David, William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), Julie Christie, Spike Milligan (1918–2002), Gerald Durrell (1925–1995), Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017)

English singer-songwriter Peter Sarstedt was born on December 10, 1941 in New Delhi, British India. 

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