Shiv Jalota | |
---|---|
Born | Shiv Jalota 26 December 1993 Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2015–present |
Television | EastEnders |
Shiv Jalota (born 26 December 1993) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Vinny Panesar on the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 2019.
Jalota was born on 26 December 1993 in Kingston upon Thames. [1] He studied drama at Richmond Drama School and later joined the National Youth Theatre in 2013 after it was recommended by a friend, where he appeared in the stage production Homegrown: a true story . [1] Jalota credited the theatre company for helping him to break into the entertainment industry. He subsequently went on to appear in an array of stage shows including Pigeon English , Romeo and Juliet , DNA, The Grapes of Wrath , Mother Courage and Her Children , Catalyst and Pappy Show. [2] In 2016, he made his short film debut, appearing as a gym-goer in Heavy Weight. [3] In 2018, Jalota secured the lead role of Christopher Boone in the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time , becoming the first British-Asian actor to do so. [4] Of his casting, Jalota said he "found it a relief to jump out of standard BAME personas" and added that it was "more rewarding and not associated at all with [his] ethnicity." [5]
In 2019, Jalota was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Vinny Panesar, the youngest brother in the Panesar family. [6] [7] He made his on-screen debut on 29 October, arriving alongside the character's brothers Kheerat (Jaz Deol) and Jags (Amar Adatia). [8] [9] His character's storylines on the show have included his relationship with Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero) and the introduction of and relationship with his parents Suki (Balvinder Sopal) and Nish (Navin Chowdhry). [10] [11] [12] [13]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Heavy Weight | Gym goer | Short film | [14] |
2019 | White Girl | Unknown | Short film | [14] |
2019–present | EastEnders | Vinny Panesar | Regular role | [15] |
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Homegrown: a true story | Shiv | National Youth Theatre | [2] |
2016 | Pigeon English | Dizzy | Ambassadors Theatre | |
2016 | Romeo and Juliet | Benvollio | Ambassadors Theatre | |
2016 | DNA | Adam | Ambassadors Theatre | |
2017 | The Grapes of Wrath | Al Joad | West Yorkshire Playhouse | |
2017 | Mother Courage and Her Children | Company | Southwark Playhouse | |
2018 | Catalyst | Kurt | The North Wall Theatre | |
2018 | Pappy Show | Boys | New Diorama | |
2018 | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Christopher Boone | National Theatre | |
2019 | Orange Juice | Adam | Tristan Bates Theatre |
Kirsty "Dotty" Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Molly Conlin from 2008 to 2010 and Milly Zero from 2019 to 2022. She was introduced on 26 December 2008 as the daughter of established character Nick Cotton. Nick uses Dotty as his partner-in-crime; they plan to kill his mother Dot Branning and inherit the money from her will. She and Dot subsequently become close after Dotty sabotages Nick's murder attempt at the last minute. In her final storyline which aired on 23 February 2010, she left with her mother Sandy, who she believed died. On 3 October 2019, Dotty returned, with the role recast to Milly Zero. In December 2021, Sandy tells her that she is not Nick's daughter and that her father is Tom "Rocky" Cotton. However, in September 2022, this is revealed to be a lie. On 13 November 2022, it was announced that Zero had quit the show and Dotty left on 16 December 2022.
Keegan Butcher-Baker is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Zack Morris. He first appeared in episode 5421, broadcast on 9 January 2017, transpiring to be a school friend of established character Shakil Kazemi. Morris began filming in November 2016 and Keegan was introduced to become promenant in storylines focusing with other teenage characters, namely Shakil, Bex Fowler, and Louise Mitchell. Initially characterised as an arrogant and spiteful bully, Keegan's character became more sensitive and sympathetic throughout his time on the soap, particularly following the introduction of his family – the Taylors – in June 2017. During the family's announcement and promotion, it was kept secret that Keegan was their relative.
Iqra Ahmed is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Priya Davdra. Davdra's casting as Iqra was announced on 20 December 2018, along with that of Habiba. Both characters were called feisty and the BBC stated that they would both make an impact on Walford. Iqra is the elder sister of Habiba, and is described as "no-nonsense, bold and intelligent". Iqra makes her first appearance in episode 5871, originally broadcast on 19 February 2019. Alongside sister Habiba Ahmed, Iqra is introduced as a relative of established character Masood Ahmed. Iqra's final appearance aired on 3 January 2022.
Jaskiranjit Singh Deol is a British actor, known for portraying the role of Kheerat Panesar on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2019 to 2022.
Balvinder Sopal is an English actress, whose acting career has spanned over two decades. She rose to prominence for her portrayal as Suki Panesar in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since January 2020. Her most notable storyline includes her on-off affair with Eve Unwin. Sopal has also appeared in other British soap operas including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors and Hollyoaks.
Ash Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gurlaine Kaur Garcha. Ash was introduced as the bisexual Punjabi Sikh girlfriend of established character Iqra Ahmed in episode 5980, broadcast on 29 August 2019. Garcha expressed excitement to be cast as a Sikh LGBT character due to the opportunity for representation that it presented. Later revealed to be an estranged member of the Panesar family, Ash's storylines have mainly focused on her complicated family relationships, especially her mother Suki due to her sexual orientation, her romantic relationships with Iqra and Peter Beale, being a victim of casual racism at the hands of Harvey Monroe, and her eventual exit from the soap after accepting a job in Canada.
James Castling Farrar is an English actor and model, known for his roles as Liam Gilmore in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. He rose to prominence in 2021 for his portrayal of Zack Hudson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Thomas "Rocky" Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Brian Conley. He was introduced under the alias Terry Cant, the estranged father of Sonia Fowler in episode 6274, broadcast on 18 May 2021, after his casting details were announced in February of that year. He was initially billed as the "ultimate people pleaser" and a charmer. In his time on the show, his storylines focused on the exposure of his false identity, his relationship and eventual marriage to Kathy Beale, burning down the Bridge Street Café in an insurance scam, and being one of the potential victims in "The Six" storyline. In September 2023, it was announced that Conley had left the soap, with his last appearance being depicted in episode 6830, which aired on 29 December 2023.
Ravi Gulati is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders and is portrayed by Aaron Thiara. Ravi made his first appearance in episode 6515, originally broadcast on 4 July 2022. Ravi was introduced as a fellow prisoner of Phil Mitchell and a former associate of Kheerat Panesar, though later revealed as the illegitimate son of Nish Panesar however viewers did not originally know this beforehand as there was no announcement prior to the plot-twist.
Nish Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Navin Chowdhry. After being mentioned multiple times beforehand, Nish made his first appearance in episode 6565, broadcast on 29 September 2022. It was confirmed that Chowdhry had begun filming before the announcement of his casting on 28 August 2022. Billed as "ice-cold" and "manipulative", Nish is introduced as the estranged mentally abusive and controlling husband of Suki Panesar and the father of Kheerat, Jags, Ash, and Vinny. He is later revealed to also be the father of Ravi Gulati in a twist. Since his introduction, Nish's storylines have focused on his attempts to rebuild relationships with his family, the crumbling of his marriage to Suki, a feud with Suki's lover Eve Unwin, becoming comatosed during "The Six" storyline, a fling with Kat Mitchell and suffering from viral myocarditis.
Suki Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Balvinder Sopal. Sopal's casting and details about Suki were announced in December 2019, with the character making her first onscreen appearance on 27 January 2020. She was portrayed as the protective mother of Kheerat, Jags, Vinny and Ash who believe that she always has the right answer. Prior to her arrival, it is confirmed that her relationship with Ash is severed due to disagreeing with her bisexuality. Her initial storyline sees her lying about having cancer to garner sympathy and get closer to her children. She was immediately well-received by viewers and critics, with Inside Soap writing that Suki had reached "soap icon status in record time". Sopal was shocked by the praise that she and Suki had received from the beginning of her tenure.
Barnaby Clay Milner Russell is an English actor, known for playing Bobby Beale on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2019 to 2024.
Priya Nandra-Hart is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Khan Levy. Priya was introduced into the serial in episode 6789, originally broadcast on 16 October 2023. The character is devised as part of Ravi Gulati and Davinder "Nugget" Gulati 's backstories in a plot-twist that would introduce Nugget's mother and a secret daughter for Ravi. Khan Levy's character and casting details were both announced on 21 September 2023. Priya is revealed to be looking after her estranged son Nugget, who had gone missing at the time after a dispute with his father and Priya's ex-boyfriend Ravi from what was described as a "bittersweet" break-up years prior, where she left Ravi and Nugget to provide for her unborn daughter Avani Nandra-Hart, also fathered by Ravi but was however unbeknownst to him or Avani. It was later revealed in a plot-twist Priya had not walked out on them – Ranveer Gulati, the adoptive father of Ravi, sexually assaulted Priya and enforced her exit from his family – Priya struck a cord with Suki Panesar as they have similar experiences with Ranveer prior to them meeting.