Sacha Dhawan was born in Bramhall, Stockport to Hindu parents though he actually attended a Roman Catholic secondary school, Thomas Aquinas College, in nearby Stockport, where one of the authors whom he studied for his final exams was Alan Bennett, with whom he was very impressed. He began as a child actor at the age of 12 and attended the Laine-Johnson School of Acting in Manchester. He is also an accomplished tap-dancer. His enthusiasm for Bennett was such that when auditions were being held for his play 'The History Boys' on the London stage Sacha impressed the author not just with his acting but by reciting a poem he had composed about the play and its author. He has appeared in stage versions of 'The History Boys' around the world as well as in the 2006 film adaptation. On television he appeared in two high profile series 'In the Club' as an expectant father and 'Last Tango in Halifax' as a toy boy.