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Nitin Ganatra

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Nitin Ganatra
OBE
Ganatra at the 2011 British Soap Awards
Born (1967-06-30) 30 June 1967 (age 57)
Kenya
OccupationActor
TelevisionEastEnders
Mumbai Calling
The Worst Witch
Wednesday
Spouse
Meera Ganatra
​
(m. 2004)​
Children2

Nitin Chandra Ganatra (born 30 June 1967[1]) is a British actor. He is known for portraying Masood Ahmed in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders (2007–2019), for which he won a British Soap Award.

Early life

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Ganatra was born on 30 June 1967 in Kenya. Both sides of his family have origins in Gujarat, India, which was explored on-screen in the 2013 series of Who Do You Think You Are?[2] His great-grandfather arrived in Kenya in the late 1890s, as one of 32,000 contracted labourers to build the Uganda Railway.[3] One of under 10,000 to stay in the country after the railway's completion, his grandfather and his father later joined the family's general trading business.[3]

After Kenya gained independence from the United Kingdom and forced the native Indian population to choose between Kenya and their British passports in 1971, Ganatra, aged 3, moved with his family to Coventry, where the family still owned a corner shop.[3][4][5]

Ganatra was educated at Coundon Court School and Community College on Northbrook Road and then studied Drama, Film, and Television at the University of Bristol. He went on to train under the tutelage of the late Master theatre practitioner Jerzy Grotowski.

Career

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Ganatra is known internationally as Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also appears in the Gurinder Chada film Bride and Prejudice as Kholi Saab and The Mistress of Spices as Haroun, and Dev Raja in Mumbai Calling. He also appeared in the first ever iPod commercial. Ganatra also appeared in an episode of The Catherine Tate Show, as Joanie Taylor's daughter's partner.[6]

Other appearances include the television show Jane Hall, the Patents Clerk in Philip Pullman's The Shadow in the North, the CBBC television show Gina's Laughing Gear, a character in Meet the Magoons portraying himself, a semi lead role as Rez, brother of main character Shifty, in the 2008 British cult film Shifty about a Muslim crack-cocaine dealer, and Martin Soper in Twenty Twelve. He also appeared in Being April, portraying the role of Sinil.[7]

On 15 October 2014, Ganatra appeared in an episode of Celebrity Squares.[8] On 25 March 2015, he featured in a comedy interview alongside comedian Paul Chowdhry in which he pretended to lose his temper and "attacked" Chowdhry. His appearance on Pointless Celebrities, in which he had to have the rules explained to him by the host, was included in a 2020 special called Pointless: The Good, the Bad and the Bloopers.[9]

It was announced in May 2017 that Ganatra would appear in comedy feature Eaten by Lions, alongside Antonio Aakeel and Jack Carroll.[10] He also appeared in the Channel 4 drama The State, portraying the father of a young British Muslim who went to join ISIS.[11] In 2020, he portrayed spell science teacher Mr. Daisy in the CBBC series The Worst Witch, and a lawyer in a two-part episode of Trial & Retribution.

In 2022, Ganatra also appeared in episode four of season one of the Netflix series Wednesday, directed by Tim Burton, as Dr. Anwar.[12] Then in February 2023, he portrayed Kamil Razaq in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.[13]

EastEnders

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On 16 October 2007, Ganatra began playing regular character Masood Ahmed in the BBC One soap opera, EastEnders.[14] He also appeared in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. Ganatra left EastEnders in 2016.[15] He made a one-off appearance on 28 November 2017, and returned permanently on 1 January 2018. On 26 January 2019, it was announced Ganatra had decided to leave his role as Masood, and he left the show later in 2019.[16]

At The British Soap Awards, Ganatra won Best On-Screen Partnership with Nina Wadia in 2009, and was nominated for Best Actor in 2010.[17][18]

Personal life

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On 17 July 2004, Ganatra and Meera Thakrar were married.[19] They have two children and live in North London.[20]

In April 2019, he was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at The Asian Awards.[21]

Ganatra was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to drama.[22][23]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Character Notes
1990 Truly, Madly, Deeply Ghost
1996 Secrets & Lies Potential Husband
1998 Guru in Seven Sanjay
2000 This Bastard Business Raj Short
2001 The Love Doctor Vivek Short
2002 Shooters Ajay
Another Day Sunil Short
Stag Sammi Short
Pure Abu
Inferno Naz Short
2004 Chess: A Game Plan
Bride and Prejudice Kohli Saab
Piccadilly Jim Banje Singh
2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Prince of Pondicherry
The Mistress of Spices Haroun
Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish Story Deepak
2006 Land of the Blind Prison Official
2007 The Hunting Party Indian Officer
2008 Shifty Rez
2009 Mad, Sad & Bad Atul
2017 Disconnect Abdullah Short
2018 Eaten by Lions Malik
2019 Hellboy August Swain
2021 Expiation Jimmy Short
2023 Short Stay, Long Stay Vinny Short
Accused Ramesh Bhavsar
2024 Seize Them! Witgar the Baker
The Collaborator" The Boy's Father / Sarpanch
Elephant Short
2025 Christmas Karma Upcoming film

Television

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Year Film Character Notes
1996 Thief Takers Doctor Episode: "No One Likes to See That"
1997 This Life Salim Episode: "Room With a Queue"
1999 Our Charly Ravi Patel Episode: "Charly und der Affengott"
Extremely Dangerous Ali Khan
1999; 2006 The Bill Mr. Chauduri; Charlie May Episode: "Makeover";
Episode: "Honour Amongst Thieves"
2000 The Sins Job Centre Clerk
2001 Murder in Mind Riaz Chowdry Episode: "Sleeper"
Sweet Revenge Lawyer
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Ramon Episode: "Painkillers"
Kumbh Mela: The Greatest Show on Earth Narrator Documentary
2002 The Jury Tariq Shah 4 episodes
Rescue Me Jimmy
Being April Sunil
Mr & Mrs Jones Adam Crawley Television film
Comedy Lab Nitin Episode: "Meet the Magoons"
2002; 2018 Silent Witness DI Roy Pereira; Simon Laing Episodes: "Kith and Kill: Part 1 and 2";
Episodes: "Duty of Candour: Part 1 and 2"
2003 Grease Monkeys Doctor Episode: "Heart of the Matter"
Second Generation Firoz Khan Television film
Canterbury Tales Pushpinder Episode: "The Sea Captain's Tale"
Indian Dream Dr. Rajiv Reddy Television film
You're Breaking Up Deep Television film
2003–2004 Holby City Sami Sattar Series 5–6, 9 episodes
2004 England Expects Anwar Television film
2005 Twisted Tales Harry Nagra Episode: "Murder Me"
Meet the Magoons Nitin
2006 New Street Law Robson Episode: "High Risk, High Profit"
Jane Hall Sid Gokahani
Son of the Dragon Prince of India
The Papdits Gopi Papdit Television film
The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall Himself Television special
2007 The Afternoon Play Samir Episode: "The Real Deal"
Gina's Laughing Gear Ches Nut Episode: "Astronuts"
The Grey Man Gary Page Television film
New Tricks Doctor Lau Episode: "Nine Lives"
The Shadow in the North Patents Clerk Television film
The Catherine Tate Show Ranjit 2007 Christmas special
Children in Need 2007 Performer Segment: "Beatles Tribute"
2007–2019 EastEnders Masood Ahmed Regular role; 763 episodes
2007–2008 Mumbai Calling Dev Raja Also writer
2008 Trial & Retribution Jaheed Jeffers Episodes: "The Box: Part 1 and 2"
2009–2011 The Wright Stuff Himself / Panellist 9 episodes
2010 Hounded Dr. Wu Episode: "Look at the Stars"
Children in Need 2010 Masood Ahmed Segment: "East Street"
EastEnders: E20 EastEnders web spin-off series; 3 episodes
2011 Twenty Twelve Martin Soper Episode: "Roman Remains"
Children in Need 2011 Roger Taylor / Suzie Birchall Segment: "Queen Tribute"
2012 Children in Need 2012 Masood Ahmed Segment: "The Walford Apprentice"
The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas Dad / Ram / Camel Voice role
2013 Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market Inspector Masood Ahmed EastEnders web spin-off series
Children in Need 2013 Street Dancer Segment: "The Big Albert Square Dance"
Who Do You Think You Are? Himself Series 10, episode 7
2014 Warren United Dillip Voice role
Children in Need 2014 T-Bird Segment: "GreaseEnders"
2015 EastEnders: Back to Ours Himself Episode: "Nitin Ganatra & Himesh Patel"
2017 The State Munir Hossein 2 episodes
Debatable Himself / Panellist 3 episodes
2018 Children in Need 2018 Le Fou Segment: "Once Upon a Time in Albert Square"
2019 Midsomer Murders Ned Skye Episode: "With Baited Breath"
2020 The Worst Witch Mr Daisy Series 4, 7 episodes
2021 Murder, They Hope Carl Episode: "The Bunny Trap"
McDonald & Dodds Dan Episode: "The War of Rose"
2022 The Essex Serpent Charles Ambrose 3 episodes
The Undeclared War Ahmed Parvin 2 episodes
Galwad 2052 Namit Television film
Wednesday Dr. Anwar Episode: "Woe What a Night"
2023 Doctors Kamil Razaq Episode: "Hearts and Minds"
Breeders Sunil Episodes: "No Alternative", "No Control" and "No Matter What: Part 2"
Bodies Ishmael 5 episodes
2023–2024 Changing Ends Mr. Robertson 4 episodes
2024 Sexy Beast Ricky Sidhu 5 episodes
3 Body Problem Ranjit Varma Episode: "Destroyer of Worlds"
Mr. Bigstuff Brian 3 episodes
Sweetpea Rory
The Chelsea Detective Virat Sharma Episode: "Everybody Loves Chloe"
2025 Miss Scarlet Amil Kapoor Episode: "The Enchanted Mirror"

References

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  1. ^ "Nitin Ganatra - Biographical Summaries of Notable People - MyHeritage". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. ^ "BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 10, Nitin Ganatra". Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Home". Radio Times.
  4. ^ Laws, Roz (25 August 2013). "Eastenders star's grandmother was married at the age of six".
  5. ^ "Featured Articles: TheGenealogist". www.thegenealogist.co.uk.
  6. ^ Director: Gordon Anderson; Producer: Sophie Clarke-Jervoise; Writers: Catherine Tate, Aschlin Ditta, Gordon Anderson (25 December 2007). "Christmas Special 2007". The Catherine Tate Show. BBC. BBC Two.
  7. ^ "Being April – BBC" (PDF). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Celebrity Squares Episode 6".
  9. ^ Jane Rackham. "Pointless: The Good, the Bad & the Bloopers". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Filming underway on British comedy Eaten by Lions". British Comedy Guide. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  11. ^ Knight, Kathryn (2 August 2018). "Nitin Ganatra End of the Pier show: Everything you need to know about the actor – from age, family life and Hollywood acting career". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  12. ^ Johns, Victoria (22 March 2023). "EastEnders legend is working at his family's newsagents after 12-year soap career". Daily Mirror. Reach plc. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  13. ^ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Ruhma Carter goes on a BLIND DATE!". What to Watch. (Future plc). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  14. ^ "BBC One - EastEnders - Masood Ahmed". BBC. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. ^ "EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra to leave Masood Ahmed role". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. ^ "EastEnders exit for Masood as Nitin Ganatra confirms departure". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  17. ^ Simon, Jane (11 May 2009). "British Soap Awards: Common sense prevails as Danielle death storyline protest fail to undermine EastEnders success". mirror. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Nitin Ganatra - Nominated for Best Soap Actor - The TVChoice Awards 2013 - EastEnders - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Nitin Ganatra - Who Do You Think You Are - His ancestors overcame a number of hardships in life". www.thegenealogist.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  20. ^ "How We Met: Sanjeev Bhaskar & Nitin Ganatra". The Independent. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Winners of the 9th Asian Awards". The Asian Awards. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  22. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N12.
  23. ^ "New Year Honours 2022: Lumley and Redgrave become dames". BBC News. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
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