Where are EastEnders’ Masood family now? From failed pop career to recast and tragedy

EastEnders has seen many soap families come and go from the well-known Albert Sq. however the cleaning soap actually hasn’t been the identical because the Masood family left our screens.

The household first arrived on the sq. again in 2007. The Masoods had been launched by then govt producer Diederick Santer in a bid to ‘diversify’ the cleaning soap and make it ‘really feel extra 21st century’.

The Masoods had been the primary Muslim household to reside in Albert Sq. because the Karims within the late 80s and the primary Asian clan because the unpopular Ferreiras in 2003, who had been axed after two years for being “unrealistic”.

Fiery Zainab made her look on the Sq. first and was shortly adopted by her husband Masood and their two children Shabnam and Tamwar, The Mirror stories.

Nina Wadia and Nitin Gantra had really already performed a married couple within the play ‘D’Yer Eat With Your Fingers?’ and received awards for his or her on-screen partnership.

The Masoods had an explosive time in Walford, actually, however what occurred to the forged as soon as the household all departed?

Nina Wadia – Zainab Masood

The matriarch of the Masood household, Zainab was a fierce battle-axe who managed to rub everybody up the fallacious approach.

Actress Nina Wadia was already well-known for starring in BBC sketch present Goodness Gracious Me and showing as a Free Girls panellist.

In addition to showing in Docs, The Vicar of Dibley and Skins, Nina had already had a minor position in EastEnders in 1994 as a nurse.

Revealing even she was not a fan of Zainab, Nina mentioned: “I continually say on set, ‘I annoy myself’ once I play Zainab. She’s actually irritating — the type of lady that I might by no means need to meet.”

First seen operating the submit workplace in 2007, Zainab was described as ‘Walford’s reply to Lord Sugar’ and endured quite a bit over her five-and-a-half years on the Sq..

She gave delivery to a child in her mid-40s, divorced Masood, remarried her abusive first husband Yusef, bought again with Masood then flew off to reside in Pakistan.

Saying her choice to depart in 2013, Nina defined: “”Taking part in Zainab has been a present and a privilege. I will at all times be massively pleased with the gifted pals I’ve labored with and I am so grateful for the particular bond with our viewers who watch, care and speak to us on daily basis – we’re a household of hundreds of thousands.

“Letting go of one thing you like is rarely simple however the time has come to maneuver on and each ending brings a brand new starting. This is to future loves.”

Nina, who appeared in Bend It Like Beckham, additionally starred in Keith Lemon: The Movie and within the 2019 reside motion remake of Aladdin.

However she would positively be up for going again to EastEnders someday, telling the Daily Star : “I miss EastEnders quite a bit, however after doing it for 5 and a half years it was time for me to return to comedy and have a little bit of a change.

“But when they requested me I’d love to return. I requested to be killed off, as a result of I wished an enormous story finish. However they did not need to kill the character, which was a lot cherished by the viewers. They did not need me to go.”

“I really like that present and it did quite a bit to my profession. I’ll at all times be grateful to EastEnders and in the event that they requested me to, I’d completely return for a bit.”

Nina obtained an OBE within the 2021 New 12 months’s Honours Checklist for her companies to charity and leisure.

This week, it was introduced that she might be participating on this yr’s sequence of Strictly Come Dancing.

The excited however nervous actress joked the one approach she would stand an opportunity of successful the competitors is that if the judges had been blindfolded.

“I believe I ought to do that earlier than I am too outdated and may’t stroll anymore. I simply need to seize life by the horns and simply get pleasure from it.”

After a tricky yr for the nation, Nina revealed she simply hoped she may make folks snigger and revealed her considerations about being dolled up for her performances.

She added: “I at all times been a little bit little bit of a tomboy so that is going to be a little bit little bit of a battle with me, the sequins and tanning – which makes me snigger as a result of I am Indian!”

Nitin Ganatra – Masood Ahmed

Beginning off as Walford’s submit man, Masood went by way of some dramatic storylines akin to chapter, struggling to simply accept his son’s sexuality and the breakdown of his marriage.

The lothario had relationships with quite a lot of ladies within the Sq., together with an affair with Jane Beale, love triangle with Carol Jackson and romances with Cathy Beale and Carmel Kazemi.

Actor Nitin Ganatra had already starred in Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility and Bride and Prejudice earlier than becoming a member of EastEnders.

In September 2016 he introduced he was leaving the position, due to this fact no members of the Masood household had been left within the present.

On his choice to depart, he mentioned: “Once I educated as an actor, I got down to play many various characters and by no means did I do know that I’d be so lucky to have discovered a personality that I’ve cherished enjoying for 9 years.

“Nevertheless, after pondering lengthy and exhausting, I’ve determined that it’s time to get again on the market and tackle another roles. I’ll in fact miss everybody at EastEnders – I’ve had an excellent time there, and who is aware of, someday Masood could also be again.”

Nitin returned to the cleaning soap in November 2017 together with Masood’s prolonged household, together with his uncle Arshad and aunt Mariam, however he left for good in January 2019.

The actor defined he had solely returned with the intention of establishing new Asian characters to proceed the Masood household adventures.

He acknowledged: “I can now enterprise off to new horizons as an actor. I’m nonetheless deeply hooked up to Masood and have invested a lot emotion into making this character memorable.

“I’m in awe of how cherished he’s by audiences and followers of all ages, from all cultures and religions and walks of life. Thanks. I’m humbled by the love.”

Since then he has performed a trainer in CBBC sequence The Worst Witch and a lawyer in Trial and Retribution.

Himesh Patel – Tamwar Masood

The intelligent clogs of the household, Tamwar began off as a shy, geeky pupil however bought into stand-up comedy.

He created a hilarious web site, Impolite Masood, the place he impersonated his neighbours and did a golden impression of Dot Cotton.

Actor Himesh Patel was 16 when he bought the decision to say he had an audition for EastEnders – and it was on the day of certainly one of his GCSE exams.

Tamwar was his first main position other than college performs and he was extremely praised for his performances, staying within the cleaning soap for 9 years.

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He bought married to teen sweetheart Afia however their marriage did not work out, then he discovered love with Nancy Carter they usually left the nation to go travelling and bought wed in Australia.

Saying his choice to depart in March 2016, Himesh mentioned he was wanting ahead to new challenges on stage or behind the digicam.

“No matter awaits me, I will miss my household at EastEnders immensely – they’ve watched me develop from boy to man and supported me each step of the way in which. It has been a real privilege to work alongside them,” he added.

Since departing, Himesh has appeared in quite a lot of brief movies and Channel four sitcom Damned.

His largest position was positively as lead character Jack Malik within the 2019 film Yesterday, the place he sang reside covers of The Beatles songs.

Himesh has additionally starred in blockbuster film Tenet and in TV sequence The Luminaries.

Marc Elliott – Syed Masood

With the Masood gamily having already made a reputation for themselves, golden little one Syed got here in to stir issues up.

Syed was clearly Zainab’s favorite little one, regardless of having stolen from the household enterprise earlier than being exiled for years.

The charming lad bought right into a relationship with Amira however he started having a forbidden homosexual love affair with Christian Clarke.

Syed was torn between his emotions and his religion, confessing to mom Zainab that he’s homosexual on the day of his marriage ceremony, which was watched by 11.64 million viewers.

Regardless of hatred for his household, Syed bought along with Christian they usually left Albert Sq. collectively in November 2012.

After departing, actor Marc Elliott has performed Dr Isaac Mayfield in Holby Metropolis in addition to many stage productions throughout the UK.

Sadly for EastEnders followers it appears he won’t ever return, telling Inside Cleaning soap in 2016: “I am a really busy surgeon, so sadly I do not assume there will be sufficient time!

“I reckon my EastEnders days are performed, to be trustworthy. I had an unimaginable time which I believe got here to a really satisfying conclusion, so I am blissful to say that it is prior to now now. I do not see myself going again there.”

Preeya Kalidas – Amira Masood

Excessive upkeep, lonely and insecure, Amira was Syed’s girlfriend who was head over heels in love and wished to be handled like a princess.

However her world was turned the wrong way up when she found her husband was having an affair with Christian.

Earlier than EastEnders, actress Preeya Kalidas had been the feminine lead within the West Finish revival of Joseph and the Superb Technicolour Dreamcoat alongside Lee Mead.

After a yr on the cleaning soap, Preeya left to focus on her pop music profession, signing a document take care of Common Information.

Nevertheless, as a consequence of poor gross sales of her single ‘Shimmy’ they did not need to launch an album along with her, however she carried on making music and received Finest Feminine Act on the UK Asian Music Awards in 2011.

Amira left Walford a heartbroken lady and was additionally secretly pregnant with Syed’s daughter, however she returned for a quick comeback in 2012 throughout the construct as much as Christian and Syed’s exit.

Talking on Lorraine in 2012, Preeya mentioned: “It was actually troublesome enjoying her as a result of there have been so many occasions once I thought, ‘You poor factor — simply be sturdy’. And by the top of it she was, and she or he left!”

Regardless of her failed pop profession, Preeya returned to singing within the position of Pinky in West Finish musical Bend It Like Beckham, having beforehand enjoying the a part of Monica within the movie model.

Zahra Ahmadi – Shabnam Masood

The primary actress to play Shabnam was Zahra Ahmadi, who stop the position after a yr amid claims that she was annoyed by a scarcity of storylines for her character.

“I’ve made the robust choice to depart as I am nonetheless younger and I need to attempt different roles. However I am actually blissful the door has been left open for me to return because it has been an amazing expertise,” she introduced.

Shabnam determined to depart Walford to search out her roots in Pakistan, then got here again years later with a special actress within the position.

The actress went on to look in Physician Who in 2013 and the White Christmas episode of Black Mirror in 2014.

Most not too long ago, she starred in Marcella as Sadie in 2020.

Rahkee Thakrar – Shabnam Masood

When Shabnam returned to Albert Sq. in January 2014 she had a totally completely different face.

Actress Rahkee Thakrar took on the position and had some somewhat traumatic storylines, together with Shabnam and Kush’s stillborn child.

After two years, Rahkee determined it was time to depart and Shabnam left Walford along with her long-lost daughter Jade after ending her marriage with Kush.

The actress mentioned: “Each on occasion a job and a gaggle of individuals change your life. I can positively say that about EastEnders .

“I am so grateful for the possibility to play Shabnam Masood and significantly her story. It seems like the appropriate time for each myself and the character to maneuver on. I am very grateful for my time on the present. It has been sensible.”

Since leaving, Rahkee has performed trainer Miss Sands in Netflix sequence Intercourse Training.

Paul Bhattacharjee – Inzamam Ahmed

Inzamam was Masood’s impolite and bullying brother who had a really obvious disliking for sister-in-law Zainab.

He didn’t approve of his brother marrying somebody who had already been wed, however that did not cease him making an undesirable sexual advance in direction of her.

Actor Paul Bhattacharjee made quite a lot of appearances as Inzamam between 2008 and 2010.

He additionally appeared in James Bond film On line casino Royale and The Finest Unique Marigold Lodge.

Tragically, Paul took his personal life in July 2013.

Theatre critic Michael Billington mentioned: “He was a type of actors whose credit score in a theatre programme gave you the reassuring sense that you simply had been in secure arms and he was simply a type of actors whom it was at all times a delight to see”

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