Former EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra has responded to the fan demand for his character Masood Ahmed to return to the BBC One soap, having left Walford in 2019 after a 12-year stint (with a one-year gap).
While promoting his movie Christmas Karma this month, Ganatra explained that there was a lot of interest from members of the public for the beloved postie to return.
“With EastEnders, everybody asks if I would return every day, I’m not even joking,” he told Bang Showbiz.
“I’m not exaggerating – three to four times a day, by people in the street or on social media.
“I would never say no, I love Masood.”
Nicky Johnston//BBC
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When asked why he thinks that character has become such a fan-favourite, Ganatra stated:”He’s a funny character, but he also has heart.
“With Masood, we crossed a threshold where we were getting people from every walk of life, from every class, African people, Chinese people, saying I love you, Masood.”
The actor joked that if he hung out with Masood, he’d give him some important advice.
He said: “He’s the sort of character that I would love to have a drink with but also say you gotta calm it down with women.”
BBC
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Ganatra’s new film Christmas Karma comes from Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha and stars The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar, fellow former EastEnders star Danny Dyer, Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter and Boy George.
Unfortunately, critics thought this was one present you’d want to throw straight on the fire, giving it some absolutely savage reviews.
Christmas Karma is out in cinemas now. EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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