EastEnders fans have been left stunned after discovering the totally different career path of Preeya Kalidas, who played Amira Masood on the BBC One soap from 2009 to 2012. The actress recently featured on a successful hip-hop and grime song from 2010, lending her vocals to the Skepta track Cross My Heart, which reached number 31 in the UK Official Charts.
From Walford to the music charts
Kalidas joined EastEnders in 2009 as Amira, introduced as the girlfriend of Syed Masood (Marc Elliot). The character quickly became a firm favourite with viewers and was soon involved in major soap moments, including discovering her husband Syed's affair with Christian Clarke (John Partridge). A heartbroken Amira left Walford in 2010, returned in 2011, and said her final goodbye a year later after failing to win Syed back.
Alongside acting, Kalidas pursued a music career in 2010 after quitting the soap. At the time, she told the BBC: "It's important in your career to take risks. I would hate to get to a point in my life where I've had a certain opportunity and I regret not taking it. That would be the worst thing for me."
Skepta collaboration surprises fans
Reacting to a clip of the music video for Cross My Heart, fans shared their shock, with one person writing: "I thought it was her!" A second added: "What a throwback." A third chimed in: "All this time and I didn't know it was her from EastEnders." Another wrote: "Throwback or what!!! Unlocked some mad core memories."
Music career and other credits
Kalidas signed a record deal with Universal Records and released the single Shimmy featuring Mumzy Stranger in 2010, which peaked at number 85 in the UK Official Charts. She was also confirmed to be working on her debut album at the time, collaborating with producers like Naughty Boy and Labrinth. However, due to poor sales of Shimmy, the album was scrapped, and she later released several singles that failed to make an impact on the charts.
Her other acting credits include a role in 2002's Bend It Like Beckham, BBC's Doctors, Casualty and New Blood. She also played Pinky in the 2015 stage musical of Bend It Like Beckham. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One.
