The Asian Candidates of ‘The Apprentice 2025’

The 19th series of The Apprentice will begin airing on January 30, 2025.

It will feature 18 new candidates competing for Lord Alan Sugar’s £250,000 business investment.

Tim Campbell MBE and Baroness Karren Brady will also return as Lord Sugar’s trusted advisors.

Like previous years, the 2025 candidates vary from race to profession to age.

From dentists to pizza company owners, the upcoming series has it all.

The 2025 series will contain three contestants with South Asian roots.

By definition, these are individuals from communities including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi communities.

These contestants are hoping to impress. But will they be successful or will they find themselves on the receiving end of Lord Sugar’s firing finger?

Let’s find out more about them.

Amber-Rose Badrudin

From London, Amber-Rose Badrudin is the owner of a convenience store. 

Amber-Rose has utilised the power of social media to build and promote her business and has gone from zero to over one million followers across her platforms.

Speaking about her business, Amber-Rose said: “My first business, Oree Mart, sold bubble tea and it was a hit.

“We removed it from our store to streamline operations, shifting focus solely to the convenience store model.”

“However, daily requests for the bubble tea’s return inspired: Oree Tea, which will be a separate bubble tea (boba tea) shop, showcasing the best of Taiwanese bubble teas, leveraging a pre-existing, keen customer base.”

Commenting on being in The Apprentice, Amber-Rose continued: “I was 22 when we first opened our business, breaking into a challenging industry where earning respect as a woman wasn’t easy.

“Being a part of this process has been a life-long dream and is a wonderful opportunity to show other young girls with similar beginnings that they can also achieve anything they set their hearts on.

“I am bringing Lord Sugar a business plan that already has a waiting customer base.

“There has never been a business plan like mine before where I get daily messages asking for our bubble tea to make a comeback.

“If Lord Sugar doesn’t invest in me, he would quite literally be leaving money on the table!”

Anisa Khan

Anisa is the owner of a pizza company from London. She is an English national Kabaddi player.

With her unique Indian-Italian fusion flavours, she has put a personal mark on the pizza industry.

Detailing her business plan, Anisa said: “Building a highly-rated Indian-Italian fusion pizza business from scratch, I’ve managed everything from menu creation to operations and marketing.

“My unique pizzas, like the Chicken Tikka Masala pizza, have earned outstanding feedback, proving the strong demand for bold and creative flavours.

“My plan is to expand my pizza business by opening more dark kitchens in high-demand areas.

“This will allow me to grow the business strategically, introduce our innovative menu to more customers, and build towards establishing a nationally recognised brand.”

Divulging why she deserves Lord Sugar’s backing, Anisa added: “I hope to prove that I am a strong businesswoman with sharp acumen, capable of scaling a business and thriving in any challenge—whether in the kitchen or the boardroom.

“I’m ready to tackle every task head-on and show I have what it takes to succeed.

“I’m driven, ambitious, and determined to carve my own path.

“My business is small now but has immense potential, with a unique concept that’s already proven its appeal.

“With Lord Sugar’s support, I can turn it into a leading brand and deliver exceptional results.”

Dr Jana Denzel

A cosmetic dentist from London, Dr Jana Denzel has South Asian roots via his heritage and parents.

The son of Tamil refugees, Jana has created a leading cosmetic dentist practice, with clients including Hollywood stars to Grammy award-winning musicians.

Explaining his business successes and ambitions, Jana said: “In terms of business success, my company has reached a major milestone.

“For the last three months, we’ve consistently grossed strong sales figures every month, proving that the market responds to our high-quality dental care and products.

“My business plan is clear: scale up into a national force in the dental industry, offering exceptional care and innovative products.

“We currently offer general and cosmetic dentistry services, and we’ve recently launched our own oral healthcare product line, starting with a premium teeth-whitening kit.”

Commenting on The Apprentice, Jana stated: “The biggest challenge I hope to tackle is living and working closely with 17 other individuals in a highly competitive and intense environment.

“While it’s going to be a challenging experience, I’m eager to make the most of it.

“More importantly, I want to ensure that I have fun throughout the process, learn from my peers, and walk away with not just a potential investment, but genuine friendships that will last far beyond the show.

“I’ve earned three degrees: a BSc in Biology with Psychology, a degree in Dentistry, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry.

“Lord Sugar is known for making smart, bold investments, and my business has the potential to disrupt and transform the UK dental industry.”

“If he wants to be part of something that will leave a lasting impact on this sector, investing in me and my business is a no-brainer.”

With such a wide variety of candidates, The Apprentice promises to be appointment television once again.

The show’s first task will see the contestants sent to Austria to sell and run alpine tours.

DESIblitz wishes Amber-Rose, Anisa, and Jana the very best of luck.

The Apprentice returns to BBC One on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 9 pm.