Nitin Ganatra open to EastEnders return
Nitin Ganatra - who last appeared as Masood Ahmed on EastEnders in 2019 - would "never say never" to returning to the BBC soap.
Nitin Ganatra would return to EastEnders.
The 58-year-old last played his good-natured postman alter ego, Masood Ahmed, on the BBC soap in February 2019, when the character left Walford for a new life in Australia.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the world premiere of his latest movie Christmas Karma on November 12 at London’s Curzon Mayfair, Nitin said: "With Eastenders, everybody asks if I would return every day, I’m not even joking, I’m not exaggerating - three to four times a day, by people in the street or on social media.
"I would never say no, I love Masood."
Masood's central romance on EastEnders was with Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), and their rocky relationship was filled with arguments, reconciliations, and plot twists.
In 2011, Masood had an affair with Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), and it led to the end of his and Zainab's marriage.
He later struck up a romance with Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) - which saw the pair be embroiled in a love triangle following the return of her ex-partner, David Wicks (Michael French) - Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford), Belinda Peacock (Carli Norris) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).
In July 2024, Jane made an "intense, exciting and emotional” return to EastEnders after being forced out of Albert Square by Max Branning's (Jake Wood) sickening threats in 2017, after he served prison time for the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), which he was wrongly convicted of.
And viewers gasped when Jane revealed she was back in a relationship with Masood.
Nitin joked he would tell Masood to stop chasing women, saying: "He’s the sort of character that I would love to have a drink with but also say you gotta calm it down with women."
The actor - who left EastEnders to pursue other acting roles, including in movies and on stage - loved how well-received Masood was.
Nitin said: "He’s a funny character, but he also has heart.
"With Masood, we crossed a threshold where we were getting people from every walk of life, from every class, African people, Chinese people, saying I love you, Masood."
