JAWS dropped during last night’s trip to Albert Square after Nugget Gulati was found alive and well.
To top it all off, EastEnders welcomed a new addition to the lad’s family as viewers were introduced to his mother. Get the lowdown.
Who is Nugget Gulati in EastEnders?
Born Davinder Gulati, “Nugget” was introduced to BBC One viewers as the son of hunky gangster Ravi Gulati (played by Aaron Thiara).
He made his Walford debut on August 9, 2022, one month after his on-screen father first appeared in the long-running program, as he spotted fellow Albert Square youngster Amy Mitchell walking through Bridge Street.
Since his first appearance, Nugget has been portrayed by Juhaim Rasul Choudhury.
Nugget had a difficult start in life as he was the product of a one night stand.
While Ravi, who was her drug dealer at the time, never wanted to be a father, Nugget’s mother fought to have the baby.
However, three weeks following Nugget’s birth, he was left on Ravi’s doorstep and raised by whom he was told was his grandfather, Ranveer Gulati.
For several years, Nugget believed Ranveer was his biological grandfather and had no idea he had links to the Panesar family.
But in a shocking twist last year, it was revealed that Ravi was the son of Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), making the businessman Nugget’s biological grandfather.
Aside from his early life with his absent father and grandfather, Nugget’s life before moving to Walford was left shrouded in mystery, particularly as no details about his mother had never been revealed.
Things were finally cleared up on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Who is Nugget Gulati’s mum in EastEnders?
After finding out Ravi had murdered his grandfather Ranveer, Nugget decided to flee Albert Square and went missing for several weeks.
His father Ravi was worried sick and the police quickly became involved in the search for Nugget.
Little did Ravi know that Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) knew what Nugget was up to.
Things finally took a positive turn on Monday’s instalment of the London-based program when Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) let Ravi know there had been a sighting of Nugget.
Ravi later heard Suki getting an address during a mystery phone call and quickly rumbled that she knew where his son was.
While Nish was convinced his wife wouldn’t have betrayed them in that way, he was soon humbled as Suki confessed the truth.
The businessman insisted on going to find Nugget with Ravi but once they burst into the flat he was hiding in, the lad insisted he didn’t want anything to do with his father.
But the biggest shock came to Ravi when Priya Nandra-Hart burst in the room in defence of her son, claiming she’d never leave him again, and her sass made her an instant fan favourite.
Who plays Priya Nandra-Hart in EastEnders?
While viewers will have to wait before they can find out more about Priya Nandra-Hart, many of them may already know the actress who has been chosen to portray her – Sophie Khan-Levy.
A soap star in the making, Sophie is known for her appearance in an episode of The Sixth Commandment as Grabielle Ade earlier in 2023.
In 2022, she bagged roles in two popular programs, All Creatures Great and Small and Mammals.
However, while she may have remained discreet in the spotlight, Sophie is actually an experienced actress who began her career in 2015 by appearing in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Love’s Labour’s Lost.
She has had several opportunities to play with the theatre company ever since.
But what trouble will her on-screen alter ego bring to the Square and, more particularly, the Panesar clan?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
