Phaldut Sharma
{{Short description|British actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Phaldut "Paul" Sharma is a Welsh actor and dancer. He is perhaps best known for his small role in the 2013 science fiction movie Gravity, and is also known for playing Achmed in Gavin & Stacey and AJ Ahmed in EastEnders.
Early life
Sharma was born in the UK to Guyanese Hindu parents, whose ancestors came from Uttar Pradesh.{{Cite web |title=Phaldut Sharma |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phaldut-sharma/bio/3000534508/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Vidyasagar |first=Prashanth |date=2013-11-12 |title=The 'other' guy in space |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/lounge/phaldut-sharma-astronaut-shariff-gravity-george-clooney-sandra-bullock/articleshow/25653448.cms |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Raj Kapoor's song was perfect for Gravity, says Phaldut Sharma |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/raj-kapoors-song-was-perfect-for-gravity-says-phaldut-sharma-614648 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}
Career
=Television and film=
Sharma played Vinnay Ramdas in Casualty and then Damon Lynch in 2011,{{Cite web |title=holby.tv {{!}} Casualty {{!}} Paul Sharma |url=http://www.holby.tv/db/index.php?id=76,252,0,0,1,0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711194854/http://www.holby.tv/db/index.php?id=76,252,0,0,1,0 |archive-date=11 July 2006 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.holby.tv |url-status=live }} Rajiv in comedy-drama Roger Roger and Paul in Meet the Magoons.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Magoons - Episode Guide - All 4 |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/meet-the-magoons/episode-guide/series-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817024035/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/meet-the-magoons/episode-guide/series-1 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.channel4.com |language=en |url-status=live }} He has also appeared in episodes of Life on Mars, Dalziel and Pascoe and the BBC daytime series Doctors. also appeared in one episode of Ultimate Force Series 4 Episode 3 "the dividing line".
Sharma was in the first episode of the UK comedy The Office, playing Sanj, and was Stacey Shipman's (Joanna Page) ex-fiancé, Achmed, in Gavin & Stacey. In 2009, Sharma appeared as Hindu nationalist Harish Dhillon in an episode of Spooks. In 2012, Sharma was cast in EastEnders as Masood Ahmed's (Nitin Ganatra) brother AJ, a regular character.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a384798/eastenders-casts-masoods-brother-aj.html|title='EastEnders' casts Masood's brother AJ|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=1 June 2012|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|accessdate=1 June 2012}} He left the soap opera in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a517892/eastenders-axes-four-stars-aj-poppy-carl-and-kirsty-to-leave-soap.html|title='EastEnders' axes four stars: AJ, Poppy, Carl and Kirsty to leave soap|last=Klompus|first=Jack|date=24 September 2013|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|accessdate=24 September 2013}} He also appeared in episode six of Hunted.
In 2013, Sharma garnered notable attention from South Asian outlets for a small role in the 2013 science fiction move Gravity, where he chose to sing a short portion of the popular Hindi song Mera Joota Hai Japani.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=DNA Web |title=Raj Kapoor's song 'Mera joota hai Japani' was perfect for 'Gravity': Phaldut Sharma |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-raj-kapoor-s-song-mera-joota-hai-japani-was-perfect-for-gravity-phaldut-sharma-1912358 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=DNA India |language=en}}
In 2015, Sharma released 'I Gotta Be Me' - a ten-part web comedy in which he plays Paul Shah - a semi-autobiographical character based on his experience as a Sammy Davis Junior tribute act.{{cite web |url=http://www.igottabeme.net/ |title=Home |website=igottabeme.net}} He also appeared as Leigh in episodes four and five of Cucumber. In 2019, he appeared as Tom, the father of Sophie who befriends the titular character in season 1 of Hanna.
In 2021, Sharma appeared as DCI Ram Sidhu in the fourth series of ITV drama Unforgotten.{{Cite web|last=Cripps|first=Charlotte|date=3 March 2021|title=Unforgotten, series 4 episode 2 recap: Could Cassie and Sunny's new case involve corrupt coppers?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/unforgotten-series-4-episode-2-recap-b1809382.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/unforgotten-series-4-episode-2-recap-b1809382.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2021|website=The Independent}} In 2023 he filmed the BBC television feature Men Up, about the first clinical trials for the drug Viagra that took place in Swansea in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/men-up-viagra-drama-russell-t-davies-matthew-barry-bbc-1235338578/amp/|accessdate=May 24, 2023|website=Hollywood Reporter|date=March 1, 2023|first=Alex|last=Ritman|title= Viagra Trial Drama 'Men Up' Coming to BBC From Russell T. Davies, 'Industry' Writer, 'It's a Sin' Producer}} He plays Peetham "Pete" Shah.{{Cite web |last=Colderick |first=Stephanie |date=2023-09-14 |title=BBC releases new pictures of Wales-filmed drama Men Up |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/bbc-releases-new-pictures-wales-27712858 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}
=Stage=
Sharma played Sammy Davis Jr in the West End production of Rat Pack Confidential in 2003.{{Cite web |date= |title=Rival Rat Pack Reopens West End Whitehall, 18 Sep - - News - Whatsonstage.com |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821061313852 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615180441/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821061313852 |archive-date=2011-06-15 |access-date= |website=www.whatsonstage.com}}
From September to October 2010, he appeared in Factory Theatre Company's Boiling Frogs at Southwark Playhouse, London.{{Cite news |title=Boiling Frogs @ Southwark Playhouse, London {{!}} theatre reviews {{!}} musicOMH |url=http://www.musicomh.com/theatre/lon_boiling-frogs_0910.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703192711/http://www.musicomh.com/theatre/lon_boiling-frogs_0910.htm |archive-date=3 July 2013 |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=musicOMH |language=en |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Boiling Frogs, Southwark Playhouse, London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/boiling-frogs-southwark-playhouse-london-2091237.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127142742/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/boiling-frogs-southwark-playhouse-london-2091237.html |archive-date=27 November 2024 |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}
References
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Phaldut}}
Category:Male actors from Newport, Wales
Category:Alumni of the Guildford School of Acting
Category:21st-century British male actors
Category:British people of Indo-Guyanese descent
Category:Male actors from London
Category:People educated at Bassaleg School
Category:Welsh male film actors