EastEnders’ Priya has earned iconic status as a lioness matriarch – now give her a storyline of her own
It’s been just over a year since Priya Nandra-Hart’s (Sophie Khan Levy) arrival turned Ravi Gulati’s (Aaron Thiara) world upside down in EastEnders.
On first impression, spiky Priya gave the mouthiest Walford women a run for their money and offended the locals with her seemingly care-free attitude.
Yet, it didn’t take long for us to see there was much more to her than a penchant for causing trouble. And, in light of her contribution in recent months, Priya has surely earned her own storyline.
One highlight of 2024 saw Priya take revenge on evil Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) after he trashed her reputation. Sophie’s triumphant performance instantly made me sit up and take note: this was the perfect way for fiery Priya to make her mark.
But it was Nish’s demise that truly cemented her as an EastEnders icon, with ample opportunity for the BBC soap to build on such intriguing potential.
Doing whatever it took to protect her son, Davinder ‘Nugget’ Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), who was caught up in grandfather Nish’s murderous scheme, Priya rushed to clean up the villain’s hideout, ensuring that Nugget avoided any consequences.
I can’t help but think she would have made the perfect addition to The Six, alongside Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal)!
But for Priya, this wasn’t about looking after her own interests. It was all for her child, and as we recovered from the horrors of that New Year episode, it was she who stole the show with the mother of all cover ups.
Delve through the archives of EastEnders’ strongest matriarchs and, in Priya, you’ll recognise traits from the likes of Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) and Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard).
Just as Priya put herself in the firing line for Nugget, Peggy risked her own safety to shield son Phil (Steve McFadden) from abusive dad Eric; while Priya’s firm speech to Nugget over his misplaced admiration for Nish echoed the no-nonsense attitude of Pauline, and her mum Lou (Anna Wing) before her.
Priya has proven herself as a formidable lioness with a heart of gold, remaining unflappably calm while Ravi (quite understandably) fell to pieces after his actions sealed Nish’s fate.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Priya won’t have her own breakdown at some point. I’m counting on EastEnders to draw from Priya’s perspective more often. The show placing her in the thick of the action leaves me optimistic that she’ll get her own arc, finding her place among the residents of Albert Square along the way.
On that note, Priya should gain some female allies. She once suggested she was pals with Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine), but apart from one isolated scene, where are the interactions proving so?
I’d love to see Priya have more fun with fan-favourites like kind-but-daft Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) and outrageous Kim Fox (Tameka Empson). Sophie certainly has the comedic talent to match their energy.
Priya also shares a spark with ex Ravi, and they could well be soulmates. But as he’s engaged in a passionate affair with Denise Fox (Diane Parish), why not pair Priya with Zack Hudson (James Farrar)? They got to know each other while she stayed at his flat, and he’s seemed rather lonely lately.
Putting romance aside, we know Priya hasn’t had an easy life. With respect for the character at an all-time high, now is the time to explore her backstory.
She has a history of drug use, but turned her life around to raise daughter Avani (Aaliyah James). There’s room for Priya’s childhood to be explored, explaining how she became the woman she is today.
Priya also revealed that her long absence from Nugget’s life was down to Ravi’s late adoptive father, Ranveer (Anil Goutam), a sexual predator who assaulted her and forced her to leave her family.
Apart from these brief moments of vulnerability, there simply hasn’t been time for Priya to develop in her own right.
With Nish’s reign of terror finally over, the focus can hopefully shift onto Priya, who deserves the same loyalty and support she’s dished out to the Panesar-Gulati clan – albeit in her own outspoken way.
Perhaps Priya could confide in fellow abuse survivor Suki, allowing for a deeper understanding of each other. As glimpsed during Suki’s wedding celebrations, they’ve already formed a strong bond – we just haven’t seen enough of it.
Priya has more than proved her worth. But I want to see EastEnders put her on the path to longevity, with wider community connections and a compelling plot to keep her at the forefront of the show.
All too often, soap characters fall onto the sidelines, almost entirely forgotten. Priya should not be one of them. Her voice matters, and now we need to hear more of it.
