EastEnders fans are floored after finding out that Priya star, Sophie Khan Levy, has a famous mum in real life. Sophie, 35, has played the mum-of-two in the BBC soap, since 2023 after Priya arrived in Walford with her daughter Avani (played by Aaliyah James), as the ex-girlfriend and child of Ravi (Aaron Thiara). Before EastEnders, Sophie has starred in the Beeb's The Sixth Commandment as well as Channel 5's All Creatures Great and Small - and it looks like she's got the acting bug from her mum, who is a famous soap star!.
Fans have recently discovered that Sophie's mum is Shaheen Khan, best known for her role as Mrs Bhamra in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham. Shaheen also played Kiran Joghill in BBC's medical soap, Casualty, in the late '80s, and has featured in other BBC shows, including Doctors and Doctor Who. Taking to TikTok, sharing their discovery, one fan shared: "Omg, didn't know the bend it like Beckham mum was her [Sophie's] mum." Another confessed: "I didn't know this, I love the film Bend it like Beckham and she's so good as Priya." Meanwhile, a third posted: "The way I went and told everyone in my household they're mother and daughter in real life, so surprised.".
Sophie has made quite the impact since joining EastEnders in 2023, quickly establishing herself as a favourite in the iconic soap. Taking on the role of Priya, the ex of notorious Ravi, the plucky character has found herself and her daughter, Avani, at the centre of some seriously juicy drama. After surprising Ravi with the existence of their daughter, Priya and Avani managed to find their feet within the Panesar family following some initial upheaval.
Despite a rocky start, Priya and Ravi are now navigating the waters of co-parenting both Avani and her brother Davinder (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), ensuring that life in the Panesar household is never short of excitement. Sophie has blended in seamlessly to the EastEnders' cast, even earning a nod for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards last year. On her nomination, she shared with Inside Soap: "I'm really excited about it, I feel really honoured because [EastEnders] is such an iconic show. So I can't really believe that A, I'm a part of it, and then B, to be nominated. I just feel really lucky, and I'm really thrilled.".
The actress was also excited to be part of the soap's recent epic 40th anniversary. Reflecting on the milestone, she said: "Being in EastEnders coming up to the 40th anniversary, I can't believe it. I grew up watching the show, and so to be part of an anniversary episode or moment... it just feels like the show is on a high at the moment. It's a super exciting time.". WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the juiciest celebrity news to your phone by joining our Celebs WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
