Nitin Chandra Ganatra (born 21 February 1967) is a British actor. He is known for portraying Masood Ahmed in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2007–2019), for which he won a British Soap Award.
Early life Ganatra was born on 30 June 1967 in Kenya. Both sides of his family have origins in Gujarat, India, which was explored on-screen in the 2013 series of Who Do You Think You Are? Ganatra's great-grandfather arrived in Kenya in the late 1890s, as one of 32,000 contracted labourers to build the Uganda Railway. One of under 10,000 to stay in the country after the railway's completion, his grandfather and father later joined the family's general trading business.
After Kenya gained independence from the United Kingdom and forced the native Indian population to choose between Kenya and their British passports in 1971, Ganatra, aged 3, moved with his family to Coventry, where the family still owned a corner shop.
Ganatra was educated at Coundon Court School and Community College on Northbrook Road and then studied Drama, Film, and Television at the University of Bristol. He went on to train under the tutelage of the late Master theatre practitioner Jerzy Grotowski.
Career Ganatra is known internationally as Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also appears in the Gurinder Chada film Bride and Prejudice as Kholi Saab and The Mistress of Spices as Haroun, and Dev Raja in Mumbai Calling. Ganatra also appeared in the first ever iPod commercial and in an episode of The Catherine Tate Show, as Joanie Taylor's daughter's partner.
Other appearances include the television show Jane Hall, the Patents Clerk in Philip Pullman's The Shadow in the North, the CBBC television show Gina's Laughing Gear, a character in Meet the Magoons portraying himself, a semi lead role as Rez, brother of main character Shifty, in the 2008 British cult film Shifty about a Muslim crack-cocaine dealer, and Martin Soper in Twenty Twelve. Ganatra also appeared in Being April, portraying the role of Sinil.
On 15 October 2014, Ganatra appeared in an episode of Celebrity Squares. On 25 March 2015, he was featured in a comedy interview alongside comedian Paul Chowdhry in which he pretended to lose his temper and "attacked" Chowdhry. Ganatra's appearance on Pointless Celebrities, where he had to have the rules explained to him by the host, was included in a 2020 special called Pointless: The Good, the Bad and the Bloopers.
It was announced in May 2017 that Ganatra would appear in comedy feature Eaten by Lions, alongside Antonio Aakeel and Jack Carroll. He also appeared in the Channel 4 drama The State, portraying the father of a young British Muslim who went to join ISIS. In 2020, Ganatra portrayed spell science teacher Mr. Daisy in the CBBC series The Worst Witch, and a lawyer in a two-part episode of Trial & Retribution.
In 2022, Ganatra also appeared in episode four of season one of the Netflix series Wednesday, directed by Tim Burton, as Dr. Anwar. In February 2023, Ganatra portrayed Kamil Razaq in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors.
EastEnders On 16 October 2007, Ganatra began playing regular character Masood Ahmed in the BBC One soap opera, EastEnders. He also appeared in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. Ganatra left EastEnders in 2016. Ganatra made a one-off appearance on 28 November 2017 and returned permanently on 1 January 2018. On 26 January 2019, it was announced Ganatra had decided to leave his role as Masood, and he left the show later that year.
At The British Soap Awards, Ganatra won Best On-Screen Partnership with Nina Wadia in 2009, and was nominated for Best Actor the following year.
Personal life On 17 July 2004, Ganatra and Meera Thakrar were married. They have two children and live in North London.
In April 2019, Ganatra was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Television award at The Asian Awards.
Ganatra was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to drama.
Filmography Film YearFilmCharacterNotes1990Truly, Madly, DeeplyGhost1996Secrets & LiesPotential Husband1998Guru in SevenSanjay2000This Bastard BusinessRajShort2001The Love DoctorVivekShort2002ShootersAjayAnother DaySunilShortStagSammiShortPureAbuInfernoNazShort2004Chess: A Game PlanBride and PrejudiceKohli SaabPiccadilly JimBanje Singh2005Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryPrince PondicherryThe Mistress of SpicesHaroun Colour Me KubrickDeepak2006Land of the BlindPrison Official2007The Hunting PartyIndian Officer2008ShiftyRez2009Mad, Sad & BadAtul2017DisconnectAbdullahShort2018Eaten by LionsMalik2019HellboyAugust Swain2021ExpiationJimmyShort2023Short Stay, Long StayVinnyShortAccusedRamesh Bhavsar2024Seize Them!Witgar the BakerThe CollaboratorThe Boy's Father / SarpanchElephantShort2025Christmas KarmaParduman Singh (Shopkeeper)2026 Post-production
Television YearFilmCharacterNotes1996Thief TakersDoctorEpisode: "No One Likes to See That"1997This LifeSalimEpisode: "Room With a Queue"1999Our CharlyRavi PatelEpisode: "Charly und der Affengott"Extremely DangerousAli Khan1999; 2006The BillMr. Chauduri; Charlie MayEpisode: "Makeover";Episode: "Honour Amongst Thieves"2000The SinsJob Centre Clerk2001Murder in MindRiaz ChowdryEpisode: "Sleeper"Sweet RevengeLawyerRandall & Hopkirk (Deceased)RamonEpisode: "Painkillers"Kumbh Mela: The Greatest Show on EarthNarratorDocumentary2002The JuryTariq Shah4 episodesRescue MeJimmyBeing AprilSunilMr & Mrs JonesAdam CrawleyTelevision filmComedy LabNitinEpisode: "Meet the Magoons"2002; 2018Silent WitnessDI Roy Pereira; Simon LaingEpisodes: "Kith and Kill: Part 1 and 2";Episodes: "Duty of Candour: Part 1 and 2"2003Grease MonkeysDoctorEpisode: "Heart of the Matter"Second GenerationFiroz KhanTelevision filmCanterbury TalesPushpinderEpisode: "The Sea Captain's Tale"Indian DreamDr. Rajiv ReddyTelevision filmYou're Breaking UpDeepTelevision film2003–2004Holby CitySami SattarSeries 5–6, 9 episodes2004England ExpectsAnwarTelevision film2005Twisted TalesHarry NagraEpisode: "Murder Me"Meet the MagoonsNitin2006New Street LawRobsonEpisode: "High Risk, High Profit"Jane HallSid GokahaniSon of the DragonPrince of IndiaThe PapditsGopi PapditTelevision filmThe Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the HallHimselfTelevision special2007The Afternoon PlaySamirEpisode: "The Real Deal"Gina's Laughing GearChes NutEpisode: "Astronuts"The Grey ManGary PageTelevision filmNew TricksDoctor LauEpisode: "Nine Lives"The Shadow in the NorthPatents ClerkTelevision filmThe Catherine Tate ShowRanjit2007 Christmas specialChildren in Need 2007PerformerSegment: "Beatles Tribute"2007–2019EastEndersMasood AhmedRegular role; 763 episodes2007–2008Mumbai CallingDev RajaAlso writer2008Trial & RetributionJaheed JeffersEpisodes: "The Box: Part 1 and 2"2009–2011The Wright StuffHimself / Panellist9 episodes2010HoundedDr. WuEpisode: "Look at the Stars"East StreetMasood AhmedCharity crossover between Coronation Street and EastEndersEastEnders: E20EastEnders web spin-off series; 3 episodes2011Twenty TwelveMartin SoperEpisode: "Roman Remains"Children in Need 2011Roger Taylor / Suzie BirchallSegment: "Queen Tribute"2012Children in Need 2012Masood AhmedSegment: "The Walford Apprentice"The Cow That Almost Missed ChristmasDad / Ram / CamelVoice role2013Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market InspectorMasood AhmedEastEnders web spin-off seriesChildren in Need 2013Street DancerSegment: "The Big Albert Square Dance"Who Do You Think You Are?HimselfSeries 10, episode 72014Warren UnitedDillipVoice roleChildren in Need 2014T-BirdSegment: "GreaseEnders"2015EastEnders: Back to OursHimselfEpisode: "Nitin Ganatra & Himesh Patel"2017The StateMunir Hossein2 episodesDebatableHimself / Panellist3 episodes2018Children in Need 2018Le FouSegment: "Once Upon a Time in Albert Square"2019Midsomer MurdersNed SkyeEpisode: "With Baited Breath"2020The Worst WitchMr DaisySeries 4, 7 episodes2021Murder, They HopeCarlEpisode: "The Bunny Trap"McDonald & DoddsDanEpisode: "The War of Rose"2022The Essex SerpentCharles Ambrose3 episodesThe Undeclared WarAhmed Parvin2 episodesGalwad 2052NamitTelevision filmWednesdayDr. Reggie AnwarEpisode: "Woe What a Night"2023DoctorsKamil RazaqEpisode: "Hearts and Minds"BreedersSunilEpisodes: "No Alternative", "No Control" and "No Matter What: Part 2"BodiesIshmael5 episodes2023–2024Changing EndsMr. Robertson4 episodes2024Sexy BeastRicky Sidhu5 episodes3 Body ProblemRanjit VarmaEpisode: "Destroyer of Worlds"Mr. BigstuffBrian3 episodesSweetpeaRoryThe Chelsea DetectiveVirat SharmaEpisode: "Everybody Loves Chloe"2025Miss ScarletAmil KapoorEpisode: "The Enchanted Mirror"2026The Good Ship MurderDominic RajaGuest role; episode: "Valletta"
References
External links