Priya Nandra-Hart: The volatile newcomer who shook the foundations of Albert Square

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Introduced in 2023, Priya Nandra-Hart arrived in Walford as a long-lost figure from Ravi Gulati’s past. Her presence triggered a series of dramatic feuds, secret pregnancies, and complex power plays. Portrayed by Sophie Khan Levy, this character became a central catalyst for chaos until her sudden departure in 2026.

Priya Nandra-Hart made her debut in October 2023, arriving with a bombshell revelation: she was the mother of Ravi Gulati’s secret daughter, Avani. Her history with Ravi was marked by a bitter split years prior, during which Ravi’s adoptive father, Ranveer Gulati, sexually assaulted Priya and forced her to leave. This traumatic past left Priya as a survivor, often driven by a fierce, sometimes ruthless, determination to secure her children's futures. Her arrival immediately disrupted the Panesar family, leading to intense conflicts with Suki and Nish Panesar.

Throughout her time on the show, Priya was defined by her manipulative instincts and complex romantic entanglements. She engaged in a high-stakes deal with the dying Nish Panesar to secure financial stability, a move that backfired when her son, Nugget, witnessed them kissing. Her relationships were equally turbulent; she had a brief romance with Martin Fowler and later entered a clandestine affair with her boss, Max Branning, while he was engaged to Cindy Beale. These choices frequently placed her at the center of the square's most explosive scandals.

Priya’s character arc was defined by her capacity for both deep maternal guilt and calculated self-preservation. After Ravi’s mental health crisis and his violent attack on Nugget in 2026, Priya attempted to maintain a facade of stability. However, the discovery of her pregnancy—with paternity uncertain between Ravi and Max—eventually forced her hand. Following the exposure of her affair by Jean Slater and the subsequent fallout with Cindy Beale, Priya confessed the truth to Ravi and chose to leave Walford for Leeds in September 2026, marking the end of a volatile three-year tenure.

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