EastEnders viewers have been left stunned after discovering that Sophie Khan Levy, who plays Priya Nandra-Hart on the BBC soap, is the daughter of acclaimed actress Shaheen Khan. Shaheen is best known for her role as Mrs Bhamra in the 2002 hit film Bend It Like Beckham.
Sophie made her EastEnders debut in October 2023 as Priya, the estranged mother of Davinder 'Nugget' Gulati. Her character also revealed that she shares a teenage daughter, Avani, with ex-partner Ravi Gulati, played by Aaron Thiara. Priya and Avani quickly moved to Albert Square and began causing a stir among residents.
Before joining EastEnders, Sophie appeared in the 2023 BBC true crime series The Sixth Commandment and the 2022 veterinary drama All Creatures Great and Small. Her mother, Shaheen Khan, has an extensive acting career, having played Kiran Joghill in the BBC's Casualty in the late 1980s and appearing in shows such as Doctors, DI Ray, Endeavour, Doctor Who, Spooks, and The Bill.
Last year, Sophie shared a heartwarming tribute to her mother on Instagram, posting a side-by-side comparison of Shaheen's Casualty publicity shot and her own EastEnders cast photo. Fans were quick to express their surprise, with one commenting, 'No fudging wayyy!' and another exclaiming, 'Omg did not realise she was your mum! What a great actress!'
