Sophie Khan Levy and Aaliyah James will make their EastEnders debut as Priya and Avani in October.
This autumn, Ravi Gulati will get the mother of all shocks when ex-girlfriend Priya comes back into his life and he discovers he’s the father to a daughter he never knew existed!
Ever since their bitter split, Ravi has kept Priya away from their son Nugget. However, it turns out that he’s not their only child together.
And it won’t be long before Ravi discovers that Priya has secretly raised their daughter Avani alone choosing not to tell him she was pregnant again. The fallout of this revelation will send shockwaves through Ravi’s world.
Priya Nandra-Hart will be played by Sophie Khan Levy and rising star Aaliyah James has been cast as Priya and Ravi’s daughter Avani Nandra-Hart.
On joining EastEnders, Sophie Khan Levy said "I’m super excited to be joining the show, and I can’t wait to see what trouble Priya gets herself into! I watched EastEnders when I was growing up, so to see so many familiar faces and to walk onto the set is a dream come true."
To which Aaliyah James added "To be given this opportunity as my official debut to screen is a true blessing. I have found home in the supportiveness of the cast and crew, and I’m very thankful to feel a part of the EastEnders family already. I can’t wait to bring Avani to life and to walk her path in Walford, and I’m excited to see what the universe has planned for my own future."
Speaking about their arrival, Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said "We’re excited to introduce Priya and Avani, two women guaranteed to cause big drama in Albert Square. Little is known about Ravi and Priya’s doomed romance, but she’s a big missing piece in his past."
"The revelation that he’s got another child will floor Ravi, and he is set to face a big challenge in his life when he is forced to cope with such a big shock to the system. We’re delighted to welcome Sophie and Aaliyah to the EastEnders family."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer