Aaron Thiara, who portrays Ravi Gulati on EastEnders, has addressed the possibility of his character returning after an abrupt exit. Ravi, a complex figure capable of great love for his partner Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) and children Avani and Nugget (Aaliyah James and Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), often causes chaos in pursuit of noble goals. His recent storyline involved a predatory narcotic enterprise after he sought quick cash from Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) to fund his daughter's sweet 16th, leading to a trail of destruction including Kojo Asare being manipulated, Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) tortured and addicted, the death of Tobias 'Okie' Okyere (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu), and Ravi turning informant.
Revenge and Mental Health Decline
Nicola and Harry enacted a vicious revenge plan, drugging Ravi and causing hallucinations of his evil dad Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), leading him to savagely beat Nugget, resulting in his son being diagnosed with epilepsy. Ravi's mental health unraveled, culminating in him considering suicide, sectioning, and a diagnosis of complex-PTSD. After a brief return to explain his release from a mental health facility, Ravi has been absent, leaving Priya to embark on a dangerous affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood).
Actor's Commitment to the Story
Aaron Thiara spoke about the privilege of handling such a sensitive storyline. 'It’s been a privilege to be trusted with something that holds a great responsibility to tell the story in a way that needs to be fully committed,' he said while supporting Mind and the Ricky Hatton Foundation at the Brunswick Art Gallery for Men’s Mental Health Week. 'I was aware heading into the story that I need to give myself to it in order to do it justice and tell someone’s story. Pressure is a privilege, right? So is hard work. So I loved every bit of it.'
Future for Ravi and Priya
When asked about a potential reunion for Ravi and Priya, Aaron teased: 'That seems to be what the fans want, so yeah, maybe something along those lines.' He also expressed openness to whatever storylines come his way: 'I’m open to anything. I think what it does so well is we go through all these nose dives into this story and pull out and we go to another story. So as an actor, you have to just be ready to be pulled in any direction. I’ve been very fortunate to play such an array of different stories and tones and emotions. After four years, whatever they throw at me – I will go with it.'
Impact of the Storyline
The storyline has highlighted mental health issues, particularly complex-PTSD and the pressures leading to suicidal thoughts. Aaron's performance has been praised for its depth and commitment. Fans are eagerly awaiting Ravi's return, with many hoping for a reconciliation with Priya. The actor's willingness to explore challenging narratives ensures that Ravi's journey remains compelling.
