EastEnders fans have been left shocked after discovering the identity of Priya star, Sophie Khan Levy’s mum, and she’s a famous actress. Priya Nandra-Hart burst onto the BBC soap in October 2023 as the estranged mum of Davinder `Nugget’ Gulati (played by Juhaim Rasul Choudhury).
No-nonsense Priya also revealed to her ex-partner Ravi (Aaron Thiara) that they share a teenage daughter, Avani (Aaliyah James), who is a right chip off the old block. Restaurateur and drug dealer Ravi was shocked to learn he had a secret daughter but vowed to be a good dad to both of his kids.
Wanting to make up for lost time, Priya and Avani soon moved onto Albert Square with the Panesar family and immediately started to stir up trouble with the locals.
Although Priya and Ravi are not an official couple, they have become one of Walford’s much-loved families, along with their two children.
Before arriving on the BBC soap as Priya, actress Sophie Khan Levy was no stranger to television.
The 35-year-old, from London, portrayed Gabrielle Ade in the BBC’s true crime drama The Sixth Commandment back in 2023.
She also appeared as Florence Pandhi in the veterinary drama All Creatures Great and Small in 2022.
After realising Sophie starred in the Channel 5 period drama, one person wrote on social media: “Sophie Khan Levy who plays Priya was also on All Creatures Great and Small. She’s an excellent actress so this should be good. #eastenders
A second asked: “Who was she in All Creatures?”, while another added: “Oh my, Florence Pandhi is now in EE!”.
EastEnders fans were also taken aback to discover that Sophie’s mum is movie star Shaheen Khan, who had a major role in the 2002 hit film Bend It Like Beckham.
In the movie, Mrs Bhamra emphasizes tradition, helping her oldest daughter Pinky (Archie Panjabi) plan her Indian wedding while also trying to coax her younger daughter Jess (Parminder Nagra) down the same path.
She was more interested in playing football and becoming a star like her idol, David Beckham, who makes a cameo at the end of the movie.
Shaheen has also made some notable small-screen appearances. In the late ’80s, she played Kiran Joghill in the BBC’s medical soap drama Casualty and has appeared in other BBC shows such as Doctors, D.i Ray, Endeavour, Doctor Who, Spooks, The Bill, and more.
Taking to Instagram, Sophie sweetly shared photos alongside her mum, and fans were left blown away.
One person wrote: “No way she your mum wow x”, while another exclaimed: “No fudging wayyy!!”.
“Oh my no way she is your mom, remember her on “Bajji on the beach”, stated one fan.
“Oh WOW I had no idea this total legend was your mother. Amazing”, added another.
