Nitin Ganatra
{{short description|British actor (born 1967)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|06|30|df=yes}}
| name = Nitin Ganatra
{{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| image = Nitin Ganatra.jpg
| caption = Ganatra at the 2011 British Soap Awards
| birth_place = Kenya
| occupation = Actor
| television = EastEnders
Mumbai Calling
The Worst Witch
Wednesday
| spouse = {{marriage|Meera Ganatra|2004}}
| children = 2
}}
Nitin Chandra Ganatra (born 30 June 1967{{Cite web|url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-343896/nitin-ganatra-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people|title=Nitin Ganatra - Biographical Summaries of Notable People - MyHeritage|website=www.myheritage.com|access-date=2018-04-27}}) 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
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?{{cite web|access-date=2014-01-18|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039tygt|title=BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 10, Nitin Ganatra}} His great-grandfather arrived in Kenya in the late 1890s, as one of 32,000 contracted labourers to build the Uganda Railway. 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.
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/|title=Home|website=Radio Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/eastenders-stars-grandmother-married-age-5782917|title=Eastenders star's grandmother was married at the age of six|first=Roz|last=Laws|date=25 August 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_ganatra.php|title=Featured Articles: TheGenealogist|website=www.thegenealogist.co.uk}}
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
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.{{Cite episode |title= Christmas Special 2007|series= The Catherine Tate Show|series-link=The Catherine Tate Show|credits= Director: Gordon Anderson; Producer: Sophie Clarke-Jervoise; Writers: Catherine Tate, Aschlin Ditta, Gordon Anderson|network=BBC|station=BBC Two|airdate=25 December 2007|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008lyb3}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/06_june/17/being_april.pdf|title=Being April – BBC|access-date=30 January 2019}}
On 15 October 2014, Ganatra appeared in an episode of Celebrity Squares.{{Cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep6week42/celebrity-squares|title=Celebrity Squares Episode 6}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/hsw8q2/pointless--pointless-the-good-the-bad--the-bloopers/|title=Pointless: The Good, the Bad & the Bloopers|author=Jane Rackham|website=Radio Times|access-date=9 May 2020}}
It was announced in May 2017 that Ganatra would appear in comedy feature Eaten by Lions, alongside Antonio Aakeel and Jack Carroll.{{cite web|title=Filming underway on British comedy Eaten by Lions|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/news/2557/eaten_by_lions_film/|website=British Comedy Guide|date=29 April 2017 |access-date=18 June 2017}} He also appeared in the Channel 4 drama The State, portraying the father of a young British Muslim who went to join ISIS.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-feature/1432575/nitin-ganatra-end-of-the-pier-show-eastenders-meera-thakrar-wife-family|title=Nitin Ganatra End of the Pier show: Everything you need to know about the actor – from age, family life and Hollywood acting career|last=Knight|first=Kathryn|date=2018-08-02|website=OK! Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-legend-working-familys-newsagents-29523201|publisher=Reach plc|accessdate=15 January 2024|work=Daily Mirror|first=Victoria|last=Johns|title=EastEnders legend is working at his family's newsagents after 12-year soap career|date=22 March 2023}} Then in February 2023, he portrayed Kamil Razaq in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.{{cite news |last1=Timblick |first1=Simon |title=Doctors spoilers: Ruhma Carter goes on a BLIND DATE! |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-ruhma-carter-goes-on-a-blind-date |access-date=2 March 2023 |work=What to Watch |publisher=(Future plc)}}
=''EastEnders''=
On 16 October 2007, Ganatra began playing regular character Masood Ahmed in the BBC One soap opera, EastEnders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/VNgGGVkXj0VXTDy7QbW7nD/masood-ahmed|title=BBC One - EastEnders - Masood Ahmed|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-30}} He also appeared in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. Ganatra left EastEnders in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-09-02/eastenders-star-nitin-ganatra-to-leave-masood-ahmed-role/amp/|title=EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra to leave Masood Ahmed role|website=Radio Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-30}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-28/eastenders-exit-for-masood-as-nitin-ganatra-confirms-departure/amp/|title=EastEnders exit for Masood as Nitin Ganatra confirms departure|website=Radio Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-30}}
At The British Soap Awards, Ganatra won Best On-Screen Partnership with Nina Wadia in 2009, and was nominated for Best Actor in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/british-soap-awards-common-sense-393381|title=British Soap Awards: Common sense prevails as Danielle death storyline protest fail to undermine EastEnders success|last=Simon|first=Jane|date=2009-05-11|website=mirror|access-date=2019-01-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018cgz4/p018cjpk|title=Nitin Ganatra - Nominated for Best Soap Actor - The TVChoice Awards 2013 - EastEnders - BBC One|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-30}}
Personal life
On 17 July 2004, Ganatra and Meera Thakrar were married.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2013/who-do-you-think-you-are/nitin-ganatra-4/|title=Nitin Ganatra - Who Do You Think You Are - His ancestors overcame a number of hardships in life.|website=www.thegenealogist.co.uk|access-date=2019-01-30}} They have two children and live in North London.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-sanjeev-bhaskar-nitin-ganatra-1717617.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-sanjeev-bhaskar-nitin-ganatra-1717617.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How We Met: Sanjeev Bhaskar & Nitin Ganatra|date=2009-06-28|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}
In April 2019, he was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at The Asian Awards.{{cite web |url=https://theasianawards.com/winners_9th_awards.html |title=Winners of the 9th Asian Awards|website=The Asian Awards |access-date=4 September 2019}}
Ganatra was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to drama.{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N12|date=1 January 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59780013 |title=New Year Honours 2022: Lumley and Redgrave become dames |date=31 December 2021|accessdate=3 January 2022|work=BBC News}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Film !Character !Notes |
|---|
| 1990
|Ghost | |
| 1996
|Potential Husband | |
| 1998
|Guru in Seven |Sanjay | |
| 2000
|This Bastard Business |Raj |Short |
| 2001
|The Love Doctor |Vivek |Short |
| rowspan="5"|2002
|Ajay | |
| Another Day
|Sunil |Short |
| Stag
|Sammi |Short |
| Pure
|Abu | |
| Inferno
|Naz |Short |
| rowspan="3"|2004
|Chess: A Game Plan | | |
| Bride and Prejudice
|Kohli Saab | |
| Piccadilly Jim
|Banje Singh | |
| rowspan="3" |2005
|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |Prince of Pondicherry | |
| The Mistress of Spices
|Haroun | |
| Colour Me Kubrick: A True...ish Story
|Deepak | |
| 2006
|Prison Official | |
| 2007
|Indian Officer | |
| 2008
|Rez | |
| 2009
|Mad, Sad & Bad |Atul | |
| 2017
|Disconnect |Abdullah |Short |
| 2018
|Malik | |
| 2019
|August Swain | |
| 2021
|Expiation |Jimmy |Short |
| rowspan="2"|2023
|Short Stay, Long Stay |Vinny |Short |
| Accused
|Ramesh Bhavsar | |
| rowspan="3"|2024
|Witgar the Baker | |
| ''The Collaborator"
|The Boy's Father / Sarpanch | |
| Elephant
| |Short |
| 2025
| |Upcoming film |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Film !Character !Notes |
|---|
| 1996
|Doctor |Episode: "No One Likes to See That" |
| 1997
|Salim |Episode: "Room With a Queue" |
| rowspan="2"|1999
|Ravi Patel |Episode: "Charly und der Affengott" |
| Extremely Dangerous
|Ali Khan | |
| 1999; 2006
|Mr. Chauduri; Charlie May |Episode: "Makeover"; |
| 2000
|Job Centre Clerk | |
| rowspan="4"|2001
|Riaz Chowdry |Episode: "Sleeper" |
| Sweet Revenge
|Lawyer | |
| Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
|Ramon |Episode: "Painkillers" |
| Kumbh Mela: The Greatest Show on Earth
|Narrator |Documentary |
| rowspan="5"|2002
|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
|DI Roy Pereira; Simon Laing |Episodes: "Kith and Kill: Part 1 and 2"; |
| rowspan="5"|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
|Sami Sattar |
| 2004
|Anwar |Television film |
| rowspan="2"|2005
|Harry Nagra |Episode: "Murder Me" |
| Meet the Magoons
|Nitin | |
| rowspan="5"|2006
|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 |
| rowspan="7"|2007
|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 |
| Children in Need 2007
|Performer |Segment: "Beatles Tribute" |
| 2007–2019
|Regular role; 763 episodes |
| 2007–2008
|Dev Raja |Also writer |
| 2008
|Jaheed Jeffers |Episodes: "The Box: Part 1 and 2" |
| 2009–2011
|Himself / Panellist |9 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2010
|Dr. Wu |Episode: "Look at the Stars" |
| Children in Need 2010
| rowspan="2"|Masood Ahmed |Segment: "East Street" |
| EastEnders: E20
|EastEnders web spin-off series; 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2011
|Martin Soper |Episode: "Roman Remains" |
| Children in Need 2011
|Roger Taylor / Suzie Birchall |Segment: "Queen Tribute" |
| rowspan="2"|2012
|Masood Ahmed |Segment: "The Walford Apprentice" |
| The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas
|Dad / Ram / Camel |Voice role |
| rowspan="3"|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 |
| rowspan="2"|2014
|Dillip |Voice role |
| Children in Need 2014
|T-Bird |Segment: "GreaseEnders" |
| 2015
|Himself |Episode: "Nitin Ganatra & Himesh Patel" |
| rowspan="2"|2017
|Munir Hossein |2 episodes |
| Debatable
|Himself / Panellist |3 episodes |
| 2018
|Segment: "Once Upon a Time in Albert Square" |
| 2019
|Ned Skye |Episode: "With Baited Breath" |
| 2020
|Mr Daisy |Series 4, 7 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2021
|Carl |Episode: "The Bunny Trap" |
| McDonald & Dodds
|Dan |Episode: "The War of Rose" |
| rowspan="4"|2022
|Charles Ambrose |3 episodes |
| The Undeclared War
|Ahmed Parvin |2 episodes |
| Galwad 2052
|Namit |Television film |
| Wednesday
|Dr. Anwar |Episode: "Woe What a Night" |
| rowspan="3"|2023
|Episode: "Hearts and Minds" |
| Breeders
|Sunil |Episodes: "No Alternative", "No Control" and "No Matter What: Part 2" |
| Bodies
|Ishmael |5 episodes |
| 2023–2024
|Mr. Robertson |4 episodes |
| rowspan="5"|2024
|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
|Amil Kapoor |Episode: "The Enchanted Mirror" |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0304092}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganatra, Nitin}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol
Category:British people of Indo-Kenyan descent
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English people of Indian descent
Category:Kenyan emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Kenyan people of Indian descent
Category:Male actors from Coventry