Aaron Thiara has reportedly quit EastEnders after four years playing Ravi Gulati. The 33-year-old actor has been at the centre of several dramatic storylines since joining the BBC soap in 2022.
Insiders have claimed that Thiara, who appeared in short films and Shakespeare plays before EastEnders, is leaving for new projects. A source said: "Aaron has been at the centre of the some of the soaps biggest storylines since his arrival as bad-boy Ravi back in 2022. He’s an incredibly popular member of the cast and the fans love him."
Exit Details and Storylines
The source told The Sun: "He’s decided to focus on new projects, but will stay on set until the end of the year to see out some juicy storylines his character has in store."
Since arriving in Walford, Ravi has discovered that his biological father is Nish Panesar and that he was the product of an affair. He killed Ranveer Gulati, the man he thought was his father, in self-defence, and was once in a love triangle with Denise Fox and Jack Branning.
The character is also known for his relationship with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), with whom he has a son, Nugget, and a daughter, Avani.
Recent Plot and Mental Health Storyline
Just over a year ago, Ravi partnered with Nicola Mitchell to set up a drugs empire, but six months later she spiked his drink as revenge, and he ended up putting his son into a coma.
Much of 2026 has revolved around Ravi's mental health and PTSD. Ahead of the storyline, Thiara pleaded with fans to "see the person" and "not the villain". He said: "In these moments, I hope the audience can simply see a human being in crisis. Some may hold his history against him, but I hope people will see, not the villain, not the history, but the person underneath it all."
Awards and Reaction
Thiara won Villain of the Year at the British Soap Awards in 2023 and was nominated for Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards. When he joined the show in 2022, he said: "My heart is filled with immense gratitude to be joining such an iconic show, working alongside a stellar cast and a remarkable production team. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family. This is a wondrous opportunity to approach as an actor, and I can’t wait for people to meet Ravi on screen and witness his roller-coaster of a journey!"
A spokesperson for EastEnders declined to comment.
