[1][2] Born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, he moved with his family to Britain as a 14-year-old in February 1968.
Verma was one of the co-founders of Tara Arts, a British Asian theatre company that was created in response to the racial tensions in Britain in the late 1970s.
Verma directed Tara's very first production (an adaptation of a Tagore play) at Battersea Arts Centre in August 1977.
[4][1][5] Verma led Tara Arts as Artistic Director since inception before stepping down after 43 years.
It included using the yellow bricks from the original building, now a distinct, warm, welcoming feature of its new auditorium, foyer and exterior.